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21st April 2012 at Exmouth Arms, London NW1 (floorspot at Jim McFarland & Jerry O’Reilly gig).
The Autoharp was first developed in Germany as the Volkszither in the late 19th century. However, it was the version produced in the United States under the name Autoharp which is remembered today. Modern autoharps usually have 36 or 37 strings, and 15 or 21 chord bars or buttons.
Autoharps are assigned the number 314.122-5 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.
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.
314.122-5 = Strings are caused to vibrate by bare hands.
20th February 2011 at SOAS (Khalili Lecture Theatre), London WC1 (London Fiddle Conference demonstration).
The Kamancheh (or Kamanche) is a Persian Spike Fiddle related to the Rebab. The modern instrument has four strings and is played with a small bow.
Kamanecheh are assigned the number 321.311-71 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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.
321.31 = Spike Lutes. Instruments in which the handle passes diametrically through the resonator.
321.311 = Spike Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
321.311-71 = - Strings vibrated using a bow.
19th June 2011 at Bernie Spain Gardens, London SE1 (Danto Aiyya at Celebrating Sanctuary Festival).
The Calabash is a vine found in Africa, the Americas and Asia grown for food and, hollowed out and dried, as a bowl or drinking vessel. In West African they are also the basis for a variety of musical instruments e.g. lutes, fiddles, rattles. One of the simplest uses is as a drum.
Calabashs 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).
111.24 = Percussion vessels.
E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings, Boston, Massachusetts, Opus 1664, 1895
Angerstein & Associates Revision, 1985
Altered by Frazee Organ Company, South Natick, Massachusetts, 1936
Rebuilt by Ross Abel (Angerstein & Associates), 1968
Rebuilt by Daniel Angerstein (Angerstein & Associates), 1970's
Revision by Angerstein & Associates, 1985
Two manuals and pedal
Slider Chests, Mechanical Key and Stop Action
3 divisions, 12 stops, 7 ranks
These are old vintage photos that are public domain. I just added dark background with text . The quote is the only original creation of mine.
21st July 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Rauschpfeife or Schreierpfeife is a wooden double-reed instrument with the reed enclosed in a windcap. The player produce the sound by blowing into a slot in the top of the windcap. It was played in Europe, particularly Germany, in the 16th and 17th centuries. There were consorts of Rauschpfeiffen ranging from sopranino to bass.
This instrument was made in 1927 by Arnold Dolmetsch in Haslemere, Surrey. It has seven fingerholes and one thumbhole (an earlier, lower thumbhole has been plugged).
Rauschpfeiffen are assigned the number 422.112.2 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.
422.1 = Double reed instruments or Oboes. There are two lamellae which beat against one another.
422.11 = Single Oboes [as opposed to sets of Oboes].
422.112 = With conical bore.
422.112.2 = With fingerholes.
LeDuff Musical Instrument Collection
A rainstick is a deceptively simple musical instrument that in the hands of a good percussionist creates complex and beautiful sounds.
The Pau de Chuva originating in Brazil and rainstick originating in Aztec culture was designed for use in religious ceremonies. As a musical instrument it may be shaken in rhythmic patterns or tilted. Subtle changes in the angle of tilt and/or the positioning in groupings of the internal pebbles alters the sound significantly. A creative and good musician will select a rainstick for it's particular sound qualities and must know the duration of the sound as each instrument is different.
A rainstick is composed of an elongated form which is intersected by multiple narrow linear elements and partially filled with small hard objects such as pebbles, seeds or beans and capped at either end to enclose them.
Source: Annette LeDuff
Wikipedia: A rainstick is a long, hollow tube partially filled with small pebbles or beans that has small pins or thorns arranged helically on its inside surface. When the stick is upended, the pebbles fall to the other end of the tube, making a sound reminiscent of rain falling. It is designated 112.1+133.1 in the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system.
The rainstick is believed to have been invented by the Aztecs and was played in the belief it could bring about rainstorms. Rainsticks are usually made from any of several species of cactus. The cacti, which are hollow, are dried in the sun. The spines are removed, then driven into the cactus like nails. Pebbles or other small objects are placed inside the rainstick, and the ends are sealed. A sound like falling water is made when the rainstick has its direction changed to a vertical position.
Rainsticks may also be made with other common materials like paper towel rolls instead of cactus, and nails or toothpicks instead of thorns and are often sold to tourists visiting parts of Latin America, including the Southern United States.
12th March 2011 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1 (“Songs of Love and Liberation from Iran” gig).
The Dayereh (or Dayreh) is an Iranian frame drum with jingles similar to the Daf but smaller (approx 35 cm in diameter).
Dayerehs are assigned the number 211.311 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
2 = Membranophones. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
21 = Struck Membranophones. Sound is produced by hitting the drumskin with a hand or object.
211 = Directly Struck Membranophones. Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly.
211.3 = Frame Drums. Instruments in which the body depth is not greater than the radius of the membrane.
211.31 = Instruments which do not have a handle.
211.311 = Instruments which have only one usable membrane.
17th May 2018 at the Union Chapel, London N1.
Banjos developed in the United States in the 18th and 19th century out of African instruments. They have four or five, or even six, strings and a circular drum-like sound box. Another important variation in banjos is whether they are open backed or have a resonator.
Open backed banjos are quieter and have a mellower tone. The strings are often higher above the finger board. This type of Banjo is used in Old Time Music. A popular style of playing for this type of banjo is Clawhammer - a downward motion hitting the strings with the thumb and one finger.
This instrument is a “Burnin’ Sun” made for Sarah Jarosz by piano restorer Bernard Mollberg of Blanco county, TX. It is tuned like a regular 5-string banjo with a low string at the bottom to add resonance.
Open Backed Banjos are assigned the number 321.312-5 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 resonator’s surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.31 = Spike Lutes. Instruments in which the handle passes diametrically through the resonator.
321.312 = Spike Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.312-5 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bare hands and fingers.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Viola d'Amore usually has 7 melodic and 7 sympathetic strings (though some have a lower number of each, and an earlier version had 5 of the former and none of the latter). The long peg box is often topped with a carved blindfolded cupid's head. The Viola d'Amore has the body shape of a Viol, that is, sloping shoulders, flat back, high ribs and a rosette but is played like a Violin or Viola held under the chin, and has no frets. It first appeared in Germany at the end of the 17th century, and fell out of use until revived by early music ensembles.
This instrument was made in 1782 by Thomas Hulinzky in Prague (then Bohemia, now Czech Repubic). It has seven bowed and seven sympathetic strings.
Viola d'Amores 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 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.
3rd March 2013 at artsdepot (Café area), London N12 (PAKAW! gig).
The Tef is a Turkish frame drum with jingles (around 25 cm in diameter), similar to a Riq.
The instrument in the photos is made by Emin Percussion of Istanbul.
Tefs are assigned the number 211.311 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
2 = Membranophones. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
21 = Struck Membranophones. Sound is produced by hitting the drumskin with a hand or object.
211 = Directly Struck Membranophones. Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly.
211.3 = Frame Drums. Instruments in which the body depth is not greater than the radius of the membrane.
211.31 = Instruments which do not have a handle.
211.311 = Instruments which have only one usable membrane
22nd March 2014 at the Royal Festival Hall (J.P. Morgan Pavilion), London SE1 (Event at “Pull Out All the Stops” Festival).
The Cornett (Or Cornetto or Zink) was a popular instrument in Europe fron the Medieval to the Baroque eras. It was made of wood and covered in leather, with a horn or ivory mouthpiece. There are six fingerholers and a thumbhole.
Cornetts are assigned the number 423.212 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.
423.21 = Trumpets with Fingerholes.
423.212 = With Narrow Conicial Bore.
11th May 2017 at London Irish Centre (Presidential Suite), London NW1 (Caoimhin O Raghallaigh & Cormac Begley gig).
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.
Bass Concertinas are tuned two octaves below the regular (Treble) instruments (with the Baritone Concertina in between one octave lower).
This is a Dipper Bass Anglo Concertina ( think an Ab/Eb one). Dipper is the only contemporary luthier to make Bass Concertinas. So far six in all of which Begley owns two. This one he bought in Japan.
C & R Dipper & Son of of Heytesbury, Wiltshire make high end, hand crafted instruments. Colin and Rosalie Dipper started making concertinas in 1973.
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.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Serpent is a bass wind instrument with a mouthpiece like a brass instrument. It is made of wood (usually walnut) with the outside covered with dark brown or black leather, and ia about 2.5 m long. The instrument takes its name from from its snakelike double 'S' curved shape. It has fingerholes (usually six) and sometimes keys. Invented at the end of the 16 century, the Serpent was the standard bass brass instrument bands and orchestras until early 19th century, being replaced by the Ophicleide. It was particularly popular in French churches the accompanying Gregorian plainsong and in military bands.
This instrument was made in the middle of the 19th century by John Roe in Liverpool. It has 11 keys, being a five-key model with six further keys covering tone-holes corresponding to finger-holes of a standard serpenf.
Serpents are assigned the number 423.213 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.
423.21 = Trumpets with Fingerholes.
423.213 = With Wider Conicial Bore.
7th August 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Muyu is a Chinese Wood Block in the shape of a fish. It is played in Buddhist temples.
This instrument was made before 1870. It is shown with a beater.
Muyus are assigned the number 111.24 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
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).
111.24 = Percussion vessels.
18th May 2016 at the V&A (Europe 1600-1815 galleries), London SW7.
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 was made in Venice in 1637 by Matteo Sellas. The back has fifteen ivory ribs with double ebony stringing betweenand the neck has marquetry scrollwork decoration of the same substances. The main pegbox has 14 pegs for 7 double courses, and the upper has the same, though the upper nut is grooved for 5 double courses.
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.
This shows the wood shims being glued to the neck. After everything has set, the wood will be cut away and sanded into the final shape.
13th May 2016 at Royal Festival Hall (Bar level 2), London SE1 (Cedar Hill gig).
The Mandolin evolved from the Lute via the Mandore in 17th and 18th century Italy. It became popular in the United States in the mid 19th century, where folowing an instrument produced in 1905 by Orville H. Gibson it adopted a flat back rather than the bowl shaped one. The bodies of modern Mandolins can be either pear shaped or tear drop shaped (i.e. with a scroll carved into the headstock). They also vary in the shape and position of the sound holes which impacts on the sound of the instrument.
Tear drop shaped Mandolins usually have f-shaped sound holes (normally in pairs, one to each side of the bridge). The American Gibson company called this design of Mandolin the Florentine or F-style.
This is Gibson F-5 from the Feb 18 1924 batch supervised by sound engineer/luthier Lloyd Loar. This was a fairly large batch of around 46 instruments, some of which have become well known. I have previously taken photo of the one now owned by Chris Thile, see: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/6168365205/ and www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/6168900816/. This instrument was owned by Don Brown of the Ozark Mountain Tio before it was passed on to Frank Rey. The musician/luthier Charlie Derrington, who worked for Gibson, includes it in his list of the five best Loars.
Mandolins 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.
8th October 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Vessel Flute has a hollow body that functions as a resonator. They can be Side-blown, End-blown or have a fipple. Be made of wood, pottery or a natural object like a gourd.
The Ocarina is a Vessel Flute which is usually made from clay or a ceramic and is usually ovoid (though sometimes adapted to resemble a fish or bird or other shapes). There are four to twelve fingerholes and a large mouthpiece which contains an internal duct (i.e, an narrowing rectangular slot). It was invented in the middle of the 19th century by Giuseppe Donati from Budrio, near Bologna, Italy. He improved what was previously a children’s toy, which itself derived from a Aztecan vessel flute brought to Europe in the 16th century (which was itself centuries old).
This instrument was made.from a ceramic by Meissen faactory in Dresden, Germany in the first quarter of the 20th century. There are eight fingerholes arranged in two groups of four along the top side, and there are two thumbholes on the underside.
Ocarinas are assigned the number 421.221.42 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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.
421 = Edge-Blown Flutes. A narrow stream of air is directed against an edge.
421.2 = Flutes with a Duct. A narrow duct directs the air-stream against the sharp edge of a lateral orifice.
421.22 = Flutes with an Internal Duct. The duct is inside the tube.
421.221. = Single Flutes with an Internal Duct.
421.221.4 = Vessel flutes with duct.
421.221.42 = With Fingerholes.
22nd February 2013 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1 (Maya Youssef gig).
The Tar is a medium sized (25 to 45 cm in diameter) frame drum with no jingles (there is also a bowl lute with the same name). It is played in numerous countrie of North Africa and the Middle East. A right handed player holds the bottom of frame with their left hand, and strikes it with the fingers of the right hand (with the middle fingers of the left hand playing counter beats and rolls).
Tars (the drum version) are assigned the number 211.311 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
2 = Membranophones. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
21 = Struck Membranophones. Sound is produced by hitting the drumskin with a hand or object.
211 = Directly Struck Membranophones. Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly.
211.3 = Frame Drums. Instruments in which the body depth is not greater than the radius of the membrane.
211.31 = Instruments which do not have a handle.
211.311 = Instruments which have only one usable membrane.
28th August 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Ngombi is the name the Fang/Kele people have for the arched harp found in Gabon. The oblong resonator is a hollowed out piece of dark wood. The extension to the resonator is carved with a stylised face in relief, and terminates in a finial in the shape of a female head. A curved wooden neck with pegs is tied to the lower part of the extension. Six strings stretch from the pegs to a stringholder beneath a lizard skin which forms the soundtable.
This instrument was made before 1949.
Ngombis are assigned the number 322.11 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.
322 = Instruments where the plane of the strings lies perpendicular to the resonator's surface.
322.1 = Open Harps. The harp has no pillar.
322.11 = Arched harps. The neck curves away from the resonator.
3rd August 2012 at SOAS (G2 Lecture Theatre), London WC1 (SOAS Iranian Band gig).
The Persian Tar is a Lute which originated in 18th century (there is also a frame drum with the same name). The body is a double-bowl shape carved from mulberry wood, with a thin membrane of stretched lamb-skin covering the top. It has three double courses of strings, and is played with a brass plectrum. The instrument has an important role in Persian classical music.
Tars (the bowl lute version) 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.
7th June 2013 at St Ethelburga’s, London EC2 (Amaraterra gig).
Castanets consist of a pair of concave shells joined on one edge by a string. They are held in the hand and struck together to produce a clicking sound. They are found in the music of Spain and other mediterranean countries.
Castanets are assigned the number 111.141 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.
111.1 = Concussion Idiophones or clappers. Two or more complementary sonorous parts are struck against each other.
111.14 = Concussion vessels or vessel clappers.
111.141 = Castanets - Natural and hollowed-out vessel clappers.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Harpsichord was a popular instrument in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. Pressing a key on the instrument's keyboard lifts a jack (a long strip of wood) that holds a small plectrum (a wedge-shaped piece of quill, now usually plastic), which plucks the string. When the player releases the key, the jack falls back and a felt damper at the top of the jack stops the string vibratiing. The term harpsichord is used to cover a family of instrument, but more specifically a grand-piano-shaped instrument with a triangular case accommodating long bass and short treble strings. Harpsichords can have one, two, and sometimes even three keyboards, which are called manuals. Single manual harpsichords usually have two sets of strings per note, whilst double manual harpsichords usually have a third set of strings that sounds one octave higher than played. The upper manual was originally used for transposing; and later for contrast of tone with the ability to couple the registers of both manuals for a fuller sound.
This instrument was made in 1974 by Robert Davies in Levens, Cumbria. It is a double-manual Harpsichord. English Harpsichords were similar to French ones with the introduction of a new register: the lute. They were noted for their luxurious tone.
Harpsichords are assigned the number 314.122-6-8 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.
314.122-6-8 = Strings are caused to vibrate by plectrum and keyboard.
19th August 2016 at Royal Festival Hall (Bar level 2), London SE1 (Askew Sisters gig).
The Accordion is a bellows driven free reed instrument. From the 1820s onwards several different free reed instruments were invented across Europe (the first to use the name Accordion was patented in Vienna in 1829). They evolved into three main types of instrument: Diatonic, Chromatic and Piano Accordions (as well as Concertinas).
The Diatonic Accordion is operated by pressing buttons or keys which allows air to flow across the reeds (these are strips of brass or steel) which vibrate to produce sound. It is bisonoric (the buttons make one note when the bellows are compressed and another when they are expanded).
The Melodeon is the name used In England for the Diatonic Accordion (though the player may well be using an instrument manufactured in continental Europe and known there as an Accordion). A Melodeon has between 1 and 3 rows of button on the right hand side.
This instrument is a Saltarelle melodeon.
Melodeons 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.
Today my ebay order of mongolian horse hair arrived! So I made a fancy horsehair bow. It's an awful bow, of course, and I have no idea how to use a bow anyway, but what the heck: here's what it sounds like on the rotten stick tension guitar and the rotten stick electric guitar.
(I got to spend some time combing horse hair. Instrument making has more in common with My Little Pony than I knew!)
these are some quite basic pictures of a Hurdy Gurdy - owned and played by Mr Mick Gardner.
The Instrument was made by Neil Brook of Preston Lancashire.
9th October 2012 at Old Queen’s Head, London N1 (Eliza Gilkyson gig).
The Slide is a hollow cylinder which goes round a finger (usually the third or fourth one of the left hand of a right handed musician) and is pressed against the strings of a Guitar. By moving it along the strings continuous transitions in pitch are achieved. The original slides were glass or “bottlenecks”, typically from a Coricidian cold remedy medicine bottle or a wine bottle. Metal slides or steels were also used to play what became known as the Steel Guitar (allegedly after experiments with a knife on Guitar strings). From around the 1970s specially manufactured slides made from both glass and metal were readily available in music shops. In the 1980s ceramic and porcelain ones were also developed.
29th June 2012 at Broadgate Circle, London EC2 (Federspiel gig).
The Tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. It was invented in Germany (Prussia) in the mid 19th century. Tubas have a 33.7 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 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.
21st May 2015 at Union Chapel, London N1 (Lau gig).
The Guitar was developed across Europe from the 12th century onwards. They usually have six strings. Their vibration is transmitted to the body of the Guitar via a sound board. Air inside the body vibrates and increases the sound.
Archtop guitars as the name suggests have an arched top, based on the design of a violin. They usually have two f holes. They were originally desined to enhance volume, being particularly popular wyih Jazz musicians.
The instrument in the photo is a 5th Avenue guitar made by the Canadian Godin company. This “’50s style” acoustic Archtop was introduced in 2008.
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.