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Ernest became enamored with East
Indian music while studying Anthropology at Long Beach
State University. At that time he was playing blues and folk
music on guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. In 1966 he recorded
an album with fellow student, Charles Ewing who had studied
Flamenco and Classical guitar in Spain. The album and the band
were called "A Cid Symphony." In 1967 Ernest began to study classical North Indian music with the great master Ali Akbar Khan, on the Sarod. He also married Deborah in 1967 and moved to Northern California to study and play music. The Fischbach's met Bob Thomas at the California Renaissance Pleasure Faire and joined up with his band "The Golden Toad" who did a huge (23 performers) and magical Summer Solstice Concert at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral, June 21st 1970. The "Toad" played music of the world with Ernie accompanying Bob Thomas (Bagpiper and Lutist) on Oboe, Bass Drum and Pipe and Tabor. He also led the group, playing Saz, Sarod, and Cumbus. Deborah danced and played Tamboura, Dumbek and other percussion. |
 Tuning the sympathetic strings on the Sarod |
Ernie with his Sarod at SweetsMill music camp 2001, "Time for an evening Raga!"
Ernest was the Band Leader and composer for Jamila Salimpour's Belly Dance Troupe, "Bal~Anat" in 1969-73. His music for Jamila has been called, "American Tribal".
Ernie playing the Oud at home
Ernie's debut of his new band for Bal~Anat on June 30th 2001 in San Francisco with Jamila's daughter, Suhaila Salimpour dancing and Ernie's daughter, Melissa Fischbach on drums was a sold out performance.
Ernie Fischbach on oud and Brian Steeger on violin, backstage at BalAnat performance, June 2001. Photo by Barbara Brown
The Bal~Anat band, " Zincali " includes; Ernie, Melissa, David Brown, Chris Caswell and Brian Steeger, on oboes, bagpipes and drums with Marianne Steeger, Barbara Brown and Deborah Fischbach playing percussion on occasion.
Suhaila with zils, Ernie and David on oboes, photo by Deborah Fischbach.
Ernie has studied and composed music from many cultures including; Gypsy
Flamenco, Moroccan, many forms of belly dance music from
various Middle Eastern cultures, as well as French,
Portuguese, English, Italian, Greek, American blues, rock and more.
His main instruments are; Sarod, Mandolin, Middle Eastern
Oud, Violin and Zurna (oboe), English Pipe and Tabor (one hand flute and drum) and Bagpipes
from Northern Spain.
Erine, Playing the Bagpipes from Galicia 2009
1996 Ernie with his family and
friends recorded the CD, "Fandango at Sonoma" early California
Dance Music with "Los Californios, The Alta California Orchestra."
Voice over study at the famous San Francisco Voice Factory has been Ernie's newest venture as a student. He has been making funny voices for years and imitating cartoon characters,
now he can claim he's practicing!
Ernie's email
Ernie's been involved with many bands
including; A Cid Symphony, The Golden Toad, The Raggle Taggle
Gypsies, BalAnat, KosKaDos, Surfaris, Men in Black Hats, Pipe
and Bowl Morris, Zincali, Los Californios the Alta California
Orchestra, Gitan American, Pisqueno Italiano, Flem ad hoc
Ensemble, The Vacant Lot, Global Village Idiots and The
Firesign Theater.
Over the years Ernest's bands have
opened for; The Grateful Dead, Alan Watts, The Floating Lotus
Magic Opera Co., Dick Dale, Los Lobos, Earth, Wind and Fire,
Jefferson Starship, King Tut Exhibit and The Hell's Angels own
band.
Ernest has also performed and demonstrated music of many cultures at all levels of public and private schools in California. For more on schools program click here
Return to ITS homepage. for more projects, info on Los Californios, and on the right,
Community Links for some great musical information, photos and such.
Elf Soundworks/Ernie Fischbach Ukiah, CA USA