View allAll Photos Tagged MusicalInstruments
7th April 2011 at Cecil Sharp House (Kennedy Hall), London NW1 (Wren Music gig).
The Border Pipes (or Pipe), sometimes called a Lowland or Half Long Pipes, was common in the 18th century but only rediscovered in the years since the 1970s. It has a conical bore chanter (like the Great Highland Bagpipes) and three cylindrical bore drones (which are in a common stock). Rather than the bag being inflated by mouth, there is a bellows under the arm of the piper. The Border Pipes is similar in appearance to the Scottish Small Pipes, but the latter have a cylindrical bore and are quieter (typically by an octave).
The English (sometimes described as the Southern English) Border Pipes is a development of the instrument. Border Pipes were always been played on both sides of the border (sometimes called Lowland Pipes in Scotland and Half Long Pipes in Northumberland). The revival of the 1970s saw them played further south, often performing English or French traditional music. Instrument makers, notably Jon Swayne, made changes to improve the sound and add flexibility for the wider repertoire. Today there are considerable variations in what different makers produce under the name, and they can be both mouth and arm blown. Therefore, defining the English Border Pipes extremely difficult (though pipes in G is a frequent pitch).
David Faulkner plays instruments made by Jon Swayne.
Border Pipes are assigned the number 422.112-62 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
422 = Reed Instruments. The player's breath is directed against a lamella or pair of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airflow and cause the air to be set in motion.
422.1 = Double reed instruments or 7s. There are two lamellae which beat against one another.
422.11 = Single Oboes [as opposed to sets of Oboes].
422.112 = With conical bore.
422.112-62 = With Flexible Air Reservoir.
26th January 2011 at Water Rats, London WC1 (Laura Cantrell gig).
The first lap Steel Guitars originated in Hawaii in the 1880s. They have raised strings and a metal slide is moved along them to change the pitch. At the same time they are picked with the other hand.
One of the most sought after makes of Lap Steel Guitar are Weissenborn. Made in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s by a German immigrant Hermann Weissenborn they had a hollow neck and a tapered body from the bottom to the top. They were also made from a Hawaiian wood Koa (now protected).
This instrument is not an original but built recently by Long Island luthier Bill Bonanzinga.
Lap Steel Guitars are assigned the number 321.322-6 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
A virtually unplayed violin made by Antonio Stradivarius in 1716. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. (The ornate tailpiece is of a later date).
Despite spending its life virtually unused, as part of a collection, this violin's neck was 'modernised' to suit 19th century trends. A pity, as it would otherwise be a perfectly preserved musical instrument from the Baroque period.
It is known as 'The Messiah'. We might think that whoever altered the neck was a 'very naughty boy!)
SMC PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR lens.
28th August 2011 at Royal Festival Hall (Clore Ballroom), London SE1 (Gamelan Summer School Central Java Ensemble at “Gamelan Extravaganza”).
The Gendèr is a metallophone found in central Javanese Gamelan orchestras. It contains 14 bronze keys on top of a resonating frame. In some types of gamelan, two gendèrs are used, one (called the Gendèr Panerus) an octave higher than the other (Gendèr Barung).
Gendèrs are assigned the number 111.222 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
111 = Directly Struck Idiophones. The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc.
111.2 = Percussive idiophones. The instrument is struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
111.22 = Percussion plaques.
111.222 = Sets of percussion plaques.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Theorbo is a Bass Lute developed during the late 16th century in Italy. It has a distinctive long neck extension carrying additional bass strings. This was because before the invention of wire-wound strings, increasing the length was the only way to obtain a clear and sustained sound from low bass strings. The primary strings are generally between about 70 and 90 cm long, and the extended basses ones from 150 to 180 cm. Different versions of the instrument have different number of strings (many between 16 and 20), and often the primary strings are in double courses.
This instrument in the foreeground was made in 1665 by Martinus Harz of Rome. It has 14 courses and 20 strings (6 x 2 and 8 x 1). The one in the background was made in 1699 by Cinthius Rotundus also of Rome. This has 14 courses and 20 strings (6 x 2 and 8 x 1).
Theorbos are assigned the number 321.321 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck.
321.321 = Necked Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
25th August 2012 at Bull's Head, Barnes, London SW16 (Stan Tracey gig).
The Mute is a device fitted to a musical instrument to alter the timbre and volume. They are most commonly associated with Brass instruments like the trumpet. They can be made from metal or plastic and come in a variety of shapes, including straight and cup-shaped
7th August 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Bamboo Percussion Tube is a form of slit drum found in Oceanic regions such as Melanesia (as well as other places around the world).
Bamboo Percussion Tubes are assigned the number 111.24 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
111 = Directly Struck Idiophones. The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc.
111.2 = Percussive idiophones. The instrument is struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
111.23 = Percussion tubes.
111.231 = Individual percussion tubes.
26th February 2012 at Cabbage Patch (Function Room), Twickenham, Middlesex (supporting Jim Moray).
The Shruti Box (or Sruti or Surpeti) is a bellows operated reed instrument which originated in South Asia and provides a drone accompaniment. It developed from the South Asian Harmonium by abandoning the keyboard and the ability to play melody in favour of single sustained notes (and thus performs a similar function to the Tanpura/Tambura). Its role in Hindustani music is limited to a practice instrument. The Shruti Box has been taken up in the UK by some traditional folk musicians.
This instrument is produced by a British company Shruti Box UK.
Shruti Boxes are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.
8th July 2015 at Café Oto, London E8.
The Acoustic Electric (or Electro Acoustic) Guitar is an acoustic guitar fitted with a magnetic pickup, a piezoelectric pickup or a microphone.
The instrument in the photo is a Gibson Byrdland. Introduced in 1955, and pparently named after Bill Byrd and Hank Garland. it was a Thinline Archtop ( 2 ¼") with a short scale (23 ½") based on the L-5CES (an electrified version of the L5C).
Acoustic Electric Guitars are assigned the number 321.322-5 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-5 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bare hands and fingers.
This is the valve cluster of the valved trombone I played last night on "mixed up" night at community band. This is a truly horrible, badly-designed instrument.
One of the many children begging at the night market at Tapae Street. A microphone with amplifier is by the side and you can appreciate her by dropping her some money into the case for her musical instrument.
16th April 2013 at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Front Room), London.
The Electronic Veena is a development of the Saraswati Veena (for photos of the latter see www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/6129203561/ and www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/6945969217). It differs from the acoustic instrument in having a much louder output, a longer sustenance of notes, being easily dismantled making it more portable, having a built-in tanpura/tambura, and also having adjustable frets.
This instrument is is a Radel Sunadavinodini.
Veenas are assigned the number 321.321-6 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid-body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator’s surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.321 = Necked Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
321.321-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Regal is a small portable organ with small metal reeds (which are located inside the keyboard) and two bellows. It was popular during the Renaissance. Most Regals were placed on a table to be played, and required two people. One to play the instrument, and another to pump the bellows. When the bellows are pumped, air flows across the reeds causing them to vibrate and produce a distinctive brash sound.
The Bible Regal is a very small Regal. When not in use the organ may be folded up, with the keyboard fitting inside one of the bellows. Closing these together make it look like a a bound bible (the size of a church bible).
This instrument was made in the early 18th century, probably in Germany.
Regals are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.
Tags: “Musical Instrument” Hornbostel-Sachs Aerophone “Bible Regal” Regal "St Cecilia’s Hall"
23rd October 2013 at the 100 Club, London W1 (North Mississippi Allstars gig).
Bass Guitars were developed in the United States in the 1930s. They have longer necks than Electric Guitars, and usually four strings.
The instrument in the photo is a Gibson Midtown Standard Bass.
Bass Guitars are assigned the number 321.322-5 in the Hornbostel Sachs classification of musical instruments indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-5 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bare hands and fingers.
29th October 2011 at Francis Bacon School, St Albans (BandaBéro gig).
The Cornemuse du Centre (or Musette du Centre) is a Bagpipe from Central France. It has a conical chanter and two cylindrical drones (one and two octaves below the chanter). It is mouth blown with the tenor drone and canter in a common stock and the bass drone over the shoulder. The chanter can be in a wide variety of keys, depending on its length (from 10 inches to 30 inches).
In BandaBéro Annie Forges plays one of 16 pouces (in G), Olivier Marion one of 20 pouces (in D) and Édouard Chéramy both 16 and 20 pouches.
In this photo the instument of Annie Forges is on the left and those of Édouard Chéramy on the right
Cornemuses du Centre are assigned the number 422.112-62 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
422 = Reed Instruments. The player's breath is directed against a lamella or pair of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airflow and cause the air to be set in motion.
422.1 = Double reed instruments or 7s. There are two lamellae which beat against one another.
422.11 = Single Oboes [as opposed to sets of Oboes].
422.112 = With conical bore.
422.112-62 = With Flexible Air Reservoir.
8th June 2013 at Exmouth Arms, London NW1.
The Concertina was developed in the 1830s in both England and Germany. It differs from the Accordion in having buttons in the same direction as the bellows rather than perpendicular. There are two keyboards of buttons, one at each end of the instruments bellows. Each button has an individual note.
There are several different types of Concertina. The English Concertina is octagonal and unisonoric (the same note on push and draw). The German Concertina (Chemnitzer) is rectangular and bisonoric (a different note on push and draw). There is also an Anglo-German Concertina (usually just called an Anglo) developed later in the 1860s which is closer to the English shape (usually hexagonal) and has the German note system. Other difference between the English and Anglo Concertinas are: the former have thumb straps and the latter hand straps, the rows of buttons on the former are straight and on the latter slightly curved downwards. The Duet Concertina is harder to pin down as there are a number of different systems. They are all unisonoric and have the bass notes are on the left side and the treble are on the right. The player can then play the melody on the right hand, with an accompaniment on the left, thus the name Duet.
This is a 55 key Duet Concertina made by Wheatstone.
It follows what has become known as the Crane System. Crane & Sons Ltd. of Liverpool launched this in 1912 under the name Triumph, and the instrument was adopted by the Salvation Army. This system is the second most popular of the Duet Concertinas (after the Maccann or McCann system). It differs from the latter in having 5 rows of buttons for either hand rather than 4. In the case of the 55 key instrument, 30 keys for the right hand and 20 for the left.
Concertinas are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.
22nd December 2010 at Green Man, London NW1.
The Clarinet first appeared in the start of the 18th century, and developed from a Baroque instrument called the Chalumeau. It has a single-reed mouthpiece a straight, cylindrical tube and a flared bell. There are keys, originally two and now usually 17.
The instrument commonly referred to as a Clarinet is a Soprano Clarinet, one of a range of family of differently pitched Clarinets.
Clarinets are assigned the number 422.211.2 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
422 = Reed Instruments. The player's breath is directed against a lamella or pair of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airflow and cause the air to be set in motion.
422.2 = Single Reed Instruments or Clarinets. The pipe has a single 'reed' consisting of a percussion lamella
422.21 = Single Clarinets [as opposed to sets of Clarinets].
422.211 = With cylindrical bore.
422.211.2 = With fingerholes.
15th June 2015 at British Library (Foyer), London NW1 (Joglaresa gig).
The Medieval Dulcimer is the predecessor of the modern Hammered Dulcimer. It originated in the Middle East and was played across Europe during the Middle Ages. They were played on the lap or a table, and struck by hammers held between the index and middle fingers At first they had had single courses of six to nine strings and one or two bridges. Later multiple bridges were more common, with between eight and twelve double courses.
Medieval Dulcimers are assigned the number 314.122-4 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-4 = Strings are caused to vibrate by hammers or beaters.
Behold, the Hurdy-Gurdy (English), or more accurately, the Vielle à Roue (French for something like"violin with wheel", i.e., wheel fiddle). This was hand crafted by the only production vielle luthier in the USA www.hurdygurdy.com after I placed a deposit in April 2000. This is their basic, least expensive model, designed mainly as an introductory instrument, as it is a reletively simple design. Full-featured HGs have at least 6 playing strings: two melody strings (chantrelles) and four drones: 2 on each side of the wheel. The tangents (keys) are pushed up aginst the melody string to change the note as the instrument is held horizontally with the "top" facing forward so that gravity causes the tangents to fall away from the string. For this contraption to work properly, it must be built with extreme precision.
20th April 2015 at Leytonstone Ex-Servicemens Club, London E11.
The Combo Organ of the 1960s and 1970s appeared between the Tonewheel and the Clonewheel instruments. The first Hammond Organ was invented by Laurens Hammond in the 1930s. Until the 1970s they were electro-mechanical instruments. They contained Tonewheels which rotated beneath electromagnetic pickups. More recently they have been replaced by Clonewheel Organs, electronic instruments which emulate the sound of the electromechanical Tonewheel-based organs. Combo Organs were portable electronic, and usually transistorised, Organs. A number of different pitches and tone-colours were able to be selected, usually via rocker switches or sliders. These Organs had a distinctive reedy sound.
This is a Farfisa organ (made by the Italian company, the name being short for FAbbriche Riunite De FISArmoniche).
Combo Organs are assigned the number 5 in the Hornbostel Sachs classification of musical instruments indicating:
5 = Electrophones. Sound is generated by electrical means.
5th August 2012 at Exhibition Road, London SW7.
The Vibraphone was developed in the United States in the 1920s. Each of the aluminium bars has a resonator tube which produces a vibrato effect. It also has a sustain predal. The mallets are usually rubber balls wrapped in cord, and many players use hour - two in each hand. The instrument is most commonly found in Jazz.
Vibraphones are assigned the number 111.222 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
111 = Directly Struck Idiophones. The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc.
111.2 = Percussive idiophones. The instrument is struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
111.22 = Percussion plaques.
111.222 = Sets of percussion plaques.
9th September 2012 at Gladstone Park (Roaming Band Stand), London NW2 (at Brent Celebrates a Golden Summer Festival).
The Tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. It was invented in Germany (Prussia) in the mid 19th century. Tubas have a 3.7 to 5.5 metres long main tube with a conical bore i.e. their diameter increases along the tubing from the mouthpiece to the bell.
Tubas are made in a variety of different pitches. This is one of the smaller and higher pitched - an Eb (bass) Tuba, which has 13 feet of tubing.
Tubas are assigned the number 423.231 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.2 = Chromatic Trumpet. The pitch of the instrument can be altered mechanically.
423.23 = Trumpets with Valves. The pitch can be changed by connecting or disconnecting auxiliary lengths of tube.
423.231= With Conical Bore.
Noble house from the 17th century where you can travel to another era by going through all its rooms. It conserves the noble floor, stable, cellar carved into the rock, bedrooms, oil paintings, charcoal kitchen, period items and a curious collection of old Albarracín photography.
24th July 2013 at the Gherkin, London EC3 (Yiddish Twist Orchestra gig).
The Electronic Keyboard differs from the Digital Piano in its ability to produce a wider variety of sounds. They can emulate the sound of pianos, clavinets, organs, etc. Since the 1980s their popularity has commonly seen them replace instruments like Rhodes Pianos and Electronic Organs.
This is a Nord Stage. Released in 2005, it was developed from the Nord Electro and includes a keyboard, emulatons of a variety of instruments and a Synthesizer. It is multitimbral i.e. it can play more than one sound at the same time.
Electronic Keyboards are assigned the number 5 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
5 = Electrophones. Sound is generated by electrical means.
29th October 2011 at Francis Bacon School, St Albans (BandaBéro gig).
The Cornemuse du Centre (or Musette du Centre) is a Bagpipe from Central France. It has a conical chanter and two cylindrical drones (one and two octaves below the chanter). It is mouth blown with the tenor drone and canter in a common stock and the bass drone over the shoulder. The chanter can be in a wide variety of keys, depending on its length (from 10 inches to 30 inches).
In BandaBéro Annie Forges plays one of 16 pouces (in G), Olivier Marion one of 20 pouces (in D) and Édouard Chéramy both 16 and 20 pouches.
Cornemuses du Centre are assigned the number 422.112-62 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
422 = Reed Instruments. The player's breath is directed against a lamella or pair of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airflow and cause the air to be set in motion.
422.1 = Double reed instruments or 7s. There are two lamellae which beat against one another.
422.11 = Single Oboes [as opposed to sets of Oboes].
422.112 = With conical bore.
422.112-62 = With Flexible Air Reservoir.
17th May 2016 at Heath Street Baptist Church, London NW3 (Jon Rees & Bianca Riesner concert).
The Viola da Gamba (or Viol) is one of a family of bowed instruments popular in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Viols differ from the Violin family in having flat rather than curved backs, sloped rather than rounded shoulders, c holes rather than f holes, and five to seven rather than four strings; the presence of frets, and by being played with an underhand rather than overhand bow grip. The family ranges from the Pardessus de Viole to the Contrabass. The Bass Viol is one of the lowest pitched and is the size of a cello with six or seven strings.
Viols are assigned the number 321.322-71 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-71 = Instruments where the strings vibrated using a bow.
14th July 2011 at St Bartholomew’s Hospital (Courtyard), London EC2 (Neon Quartet gig).
The Vibraphone was developed in the United States in the 1920s. Each of the aluminium bars has a resonator tube which produces a vibrato effect. It also has a sustain predal. The mallets are usually rubber balls wrapped in cord, and many players use hour - two in each hand. The instrument is most commonly found in Jazz.
In this photo Jim Hart demonstates the four mallet technique for playing the Vibraphone first developed by Gary Burton.
Vibraphones are assigned the number 111.222 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
111 = Directly Struck Idiophones. The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc.
111.2 = Percussive idiophones. The instrument is struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
111.22 = Percussion plaques.
111.222 = Sets of percussion plaques.
22nd February 2013 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1 (Maya Youssef gig).
The Ghungroo (or Ghungru) is a collection of small metallic bells which are strung together, and usually tied around the ankle of dancers. It is found in India and neighbouring countries.
The bells in the photo are heavy bells for a louder sound designed to be used in Kathak dance.
Ghungroos are assigned the number 112.111 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
112 = Indirectly Struck Idiophones. The player himself does not go through the movement of striking; percussion results indirectly through some other movement by the player.
112.1 = Shaken Idiophones. The player makes a shaking motion.
112.11 = Suspension Rattles. Perforated idiophones are mounted together, and shaken to strike against each other.
112.111 = Strung Rattles. Rattling objects are strung in rows on a cord.
16th April 2013 at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Front Room), London SE1.
The Harmonium was first developed in France in the middle of the 19th century. It has a set of free reads, a keyboard and bellows. The bellows can be operated in two ways, either by sunction from below the instrument using foot pedals or by pressure from the back using the left hand.
This instrument is of the hand bellows variety. Some of these were made as portable as possible, and could be packed away in a suitcase. These were often used by missionaries.
Portable harmoniums were brought to India in the middle of the 19th century, probably by missionaries. The instrument which was developed from them is today used a wide variety of different types of South Asian music. Harmoniums have hand-operated bellows which blow air through banks of brass reeds. The left hand pumps the bellows whilst the right plays a keyboard (or the reverse if the musician is left handed). There are two sets of stops - main and drone - which control the airflow.
South Asian Harmoniums are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.
6th September 2012 at Masons Arms, London NW10 (Whitetop Mountain Band gig).
The Electric Double Bass (or Electric Upright Bass) is an amplified version of the instrument. Its minimal or 'skeleton' body reduces the size and weight, making it much more easily transportable:
Electric Double Basses are assigned the number 321.322-71 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid-body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator’s surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-7 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bowing.
321.322-71 = Instruments where the strings vibrated using a bow.
2nd November 2012 at Old Cranleighan Club, Thames Ditton, Surrey.
The Concertina was developed in the 1830s in both England and Germany. It differs from the Accordion in having buttons in the same direction as the bellows rather than perpendicular. There are two keyboards of buttons, one at each end of the instruments bellows. Each button has an individual note.
There are several different types of Concertina. The English Concertina is octagonal and unisonoric (the same note on push and draw). The German Concertina (Chemnitzer) is rectangular and bisonoric (a different note on push and draw). There is also an Anglo-German Concertina (usually just called an Anglo) developed later in the 1860s which is closer to the English shape (usually hexagonal) and has the German note system. Other difference between the English and Anglo Concertinas are: the former have thumb straps and the latter hand straps, the rows of buttons on the former are straight and on the latter slightly curved downwards. The Duet Concertina is harder to pin down as there are a number of different systems. They are all unisonoric and have the bass notes are on the left side and the treble are on the right. The player can then play the melody on the right hand, with an accompaniment on the left, thus the name Duet.
To further complicate matters as well as regular concertina there are Baritone versions which are an octave lower.
This is a Lachenal Baritone Concertina.
Louis Lachenal used to work for C. Wheatstone & Co before forming his own company in the 1850s.
Concertinas are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.