View allAll Photos Tagged MusicalInstruments
5th July 2019 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (Foyer), London SE1.
The Electric Oud is an amplified version of the 11-string fretless instrument. It is a relatively recent invention to compete with the loudness of western instruments.
The instrument in the photo was made by the Canadian company Godin Guitars. Called the MultiOud it abandons the traditional bowl back shape, but comes closer to the traditional Oud sound than most electric instruments.
Electric Ouds 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 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.
321.321-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
To learn more about this instrument, listen to this episode of my podcast: samplesize1.com/episodes/episode-3-the-peoples-instrument
22nd March 2014 at the Royal Festival Hall (J.P. Morgan Pavilion), London SE1 (Event at “Pull Out All the Stops” Festival).
The Sackbut is an instrument from the Renaissance and Baroque eras.. It evolved from the Slide Trobone but differed in having a U-shaped slide with two parallel sliding tubes. This enables for playing scales in a lower range. Compared to the modern trombone the bore is smaller, the bell less flared and it lacks a water key, slide lock or tuning slide.
Sackbuts are assigned the number 423.22 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
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.
423.22 = Slide Trumpets. The pitch can be changed by extending a telescopic section of the instrument.
14th January 2016 at Horseshoe, London EC1 (Alma gig).
The Eastern European Tambura (or Tamboura or Tamburica) is a long necked Lute, which originated in Turkey. In Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia (and also where people of such descent who have settled in Hungary) the instrument comes in a variety of shapes and sizes which come together in a Tambura Orchestra or Tamburitza. Elsewhere in Bulgaria and Macedonia there are more uniform solo instruments.
The Bulgarian Tambura has a shallow body made from a single piece of maple. It has either 2 or 4 double strings.
Eastern European Tamburas 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 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.
321.321-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
27th July 2016 at the Nehru Centre, London W1 (with Divana Ensemble at event with V.M. Bhatt).
The Kamaicha is an instrument played in Rajasthani folk music associated with the Manganiyar community. It is made of mango wood, withv the round, hollow end covered with goat skin. There are 17 strings with made from goat’s intestine and the rest of steel. The bow is made from horse’s hair.
Kamaichas are assigned the number 321.321-71 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.
321.321 = Necked Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
321.321-71 = Instruments where the strings vibrated using a bow.
I saw these inside the local music shop. I am hoping to here someone play one. No one was able to play them when I was in there. No frets!
25th May 2016 at the V&A ("Musical Wonders of India" Exhibition in South Asian gallery), London SW7.
The South Asian Tanpura (or Tambura) is a fretless lute with 4 or 5 strings. Its usual role in Hindustani and Carnatic instrumental music is as a drone instrument. By plucking the strings one after another in a regular pattern a harmonic resonance is created.
This instrument was aquired in either Pune, Maharashtra, or Shivpuri, near Gwalior in the second half of the 19th century. The front of the sound chamber features images of the Hindu deities Ganesha, Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Lakshmana, along with peacocks and cows. The neck is decorated with figures of a male musician playing a pipe or horn, a female musician playing a drum, and acrobats, who appear to be climbing a very tall bamboo pole. One of the female acrobats has a number of matkas (earthenware pots) stacked upon her head. It is so profusely decorated it may have been made for display or for use at court.
Tanpuras 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.
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 around 1720 in Germany. It has seven bowed and unusually no sympathetic strings. It is also larger than the standard instrument.
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.
11th October 2016 at the Water Rats, London WC1 (with the Achievers supporting the Como Mamas).
Archtop Electric Guitars have a relatively broad hollow soundbox, with a violin style arched top and back. The first Archtop was the Gibson L5 introduced in 1922, and the first Electric Archtop the Gibson ES150 introduced in 1935. The latter was the model for many of the Jazz Guitars which followed.
The guitar in the photo is a Gibson ES-135. ES stands for “Electric-Spanish”. ES-135 were made between 1956 and 1958 and reappeared from 1991 to 2002. It is a semi-hollow body electric guitar similar to the ES-125 TDC. The latter was a fully hollow thinline guitar and this had a feedback suppressing sustain block.
Electric 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.
Shot at San Benedetto's Seafaring Culture Museum. Performance titled "Sounds of the Sea". Vernacular poet Beatrice Piacentini spies from the wall behind.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The English Guitar is a type of Cittern, which was popular in many places in Europe between the middle of the 18th to the beginning of the 19th century. The term is a modern one to distingush the instrument fronm the Spanish Guitar. At the time it was known as simply a Guitar or Guittar. It is wire strings and has an open major tuning Being cheap and relatively easy to play, the English Guitar was popular among amateur musicians, particularly upper-class women. The instrument took a variety of shapes (and sizes), including pear, teardrop and bell.
This instrument was made around 1770 by Frederick Hintz in London. It has five-courses and 10 strings.
English 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.
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 a G/D one). Dipper is the only contemporary luthier to make Bass Concertinas. So far six in all of which Begley owns two. This one was custom made for him. It has five drone levers (three on one side and two on the other). Usually Concertinas have only one such lever (if any at all) played with the left thumb.
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.
6th February 2011 at Old Rose & Crown, London E17.
The Viola, like the other members of the Violin family, developed first in 16th century Italy. They are usually one to four inches longer than a Violin, and are normally tuned one fifth below.
This is a 5 string viola made by Tim Phillips of Powys in Wales. With an E string on top it covers the register of both a violin and a viola, whilst being tuned like a normal viola.
iolas 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.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Yueqin (or Moon Lute) is a lute with a round, hollow wooden body. It has a short fretted neck and three or four silk strings, and is played with a long plectrum. The Yueqin is related to the Ruan family of instruments and is played in the Beijing opera orchestra (where it has two single strings).
This instrument was made before 1872.
Yueqins 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.
21st September 2015 at the Green Note, London NW1 (Oss 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 hexangonal) 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 67 key Duet Concertina made by Wheatstone in 1929.
This company started making Duets in the 1880s (the system was patented in the 1840s by J.H. Maccann of Plymouth and then manufactured by Lachenal). In 1950 K.V. Chidley introduced modifications to the Maccann system to make it more uniform, and this instrument was converted to adopt it.
Concertinas are assigned the number 412.13.2 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.
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 October 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
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 Flutina is a precursor of the Diatonic Accordion. Like the latter it has buttons or keys and is bisonoric (the buttons make one note when the bellows are compressed and another when they are expanded, though the push and pull works the opposite way round to the modern Diatonic Accordion). On the right side it has one or two rows of treble buttons and on the left side an air valve and in later versions two rocker keys to produce bass drones) Some commentators have suggested that Flutinas were played vertically (with the treble side upwards), with others arguing there was no one "right way" of playing them. The earliest version of the Flutina was made by Pichenot Jeune ("Young Pichenot") in 1831 and the instrument was taken up by other French makers between 1840 and 1880. They called it the Clavier Melodique, and the name Flutina was used by the English to describe French Accordion designs to distinguish then from German ones.
This instrument was made.by Constant Busson of Paris in the 1870s. It has 16 square pearl keys in two rows.
Flutinas are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
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 Guitar was developed across Europe from the 12th century onwards. Modern Guitars 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.
The Baroque Guitar was played between 1600 and 1750. It usually has 5 courses and 9 or 10 strings, with frets fastened around the neck like a lute. It had a much narrower body and longer scale length than the modern classical guitar.
This instrument was made around 1650, probably in Venice, Italy The instrument was originally a 5-course guitar, and converted to a 6 single strings at the end of the eighteenth or start of the nineteenth century. The neck was shortened as part of this process.
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.
21st July 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Viola da Gamba (or Viol) consists 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.
This instrument was made in 1726 by Martin Voigt in Hamburg, Germany. The neck is decorated with four Greek gods and goddesses (Apollo, Venus, Mercury and Diana) inlaid in mother of pearl.
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 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.
Totally lacking inspiration this week as I am concentrating on the end of Tour De Fleece. Cannot however get anything musical out of that.
I would really like to get a picture of the sounds in the garden, but the crickets, frogs, cicadas etc are well hidden. This sounds of nature are really music to my ears.
6th July 2013 at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Front Room), London SE1.
The Rebab is a 2 string spiked fiddle of Arab origin found in Indonesia and Malaysia. It has a heart shaped soundbox and two long tuning pegs. There are differences between the versions of the instrument in different parts of Indonesia. Those from Sunda (western Java) are larger than those from central Java, with the soundbox shallower. Those from Bali have a shorter neck.
Rebabs are assigned the number 321.312-71 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.
321.31 = 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.
321.312-7 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bowing.
321.312-71 = Instruments where the strings vibrated using a bow.
A closer look at a steel resonator guitar built by the Dobro company, on display at the National Music Museum (Vermillion, SD)
29th March 2014 at the Royal Festival Hall (St Paul’s Roof Pavilion), London SE1 (Talk at “Pull Out All the Stops” Festival).
The Organette is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and pipes housed in a case. It is played by turning a crank, with the music encoded onto either paper rolls, metal or cardboard disks or pinned wooden cylinders. They are smaller than Barrel House Organs, and intended for the private home.
This instrument was made by the Tournaphone Music Company of Worcester, Massachusetts in the late nineteenth century and sold in the UK as the Cabinetto. It has paper rolls.
Reed Pipe Organettes 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 Octavin (sometimes spelt Oktavin) is a wooden single reed instrument. Its body resembles a Bassoon body bent double, with a Clarinet mouthpiece and a metal bell at the two ends. It was patented by Oscar Adler of Markneukirchen, Saxony in Germany in 1893, and never achieved any popularity. It is about 40 cm high and has 13 or 14 keys. Some straight versions were also produced.
This instrument was made by circa 1900 by Adler & Co.
Octavins are assigned the number 422.212 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.
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].
422.212 = With conical bore.
6th October 2016 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1 (supporting London Uyghur Ensemble).
The Dutar is a long necked two string lute found in Iran and Central Asia. The Turkmen Dutar is carved from one piece of mulberry wood, and shaped like the Iranian Tanbour with a relatively short neck.
Dutars 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 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.
3rd February 2016 at Dingwalls, London NW1.
Electric Guitars were introduced in the United States in the 1930s. The vibrations of strings are converted into an electric signal, and directed through an amplifier to a loudspeaker.
The guitar in the photo is an Gibson Les Paul Special. It was first produced in 1955 (the first Les Paul Guitar was the Goldtop launched in 1952). Les Pauls were solid bodied guitars introduced by Gibson following the success of the Fender Telecaster.
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.
24th September 2011 at Barbican, London EC2 (free foyer performance before Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares gig).
A Gong is a metal disc which is hit with a hammer or mallet. They are found across Asia. Those found in Tibetan temples are usually made of a mixture of copper and tin or brass, and are suspended from a stand by a cord that goes through two holes in the gong's edge.
Gongs are assigned the number 111.241.1 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.
111.241 = Gongs. The vibration is strongest near the vertex.
111.241.1 = Individual gongs.
4th February 2019 at St Thomas’ Hospital (Central Hall), London SE1.
The Dizi is a bamboo Chinese tranverse flute. It differs from the western flute in having a membrane half way between the mouth piece and the first finger hole. They vary in size and the placement of the holes (6 or 7 finger holes and 2 or 4 end holes).
In this photo: Various Dizis with towards the top a larger Xiao and at the bottom a Hulusi in its case.
Dizis are assigned the number 421.121.12 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.
421 = Edge-Blown Flutes. A narrow stream of air is directed against an edge.
421.1 = Flutes without a Duct. The player makes a ribbon-shaped flow of air with his lips.
421.12 = Side-Blown Flutes. The player blows against the sharp rim of a hole in the side of the tube.
421.121 = Single Side-Blown Flutes.
421.121.1 = Open Side-Blown Flutes.
421.121.12 = With Fingerholes
25th March 2018 at the British Museum (Great Court), London WC1.
The Marimba consists of a set of wooden keys with resonators, which are struck with mallets. It was developed in Guatemala from a Mayan instrument.
The instrument was taken up in the western world, first in vaudeville in the USA and then between 1940 and 1960 as an orchestral instrument. The design of the Marimba became more sophisticated. A Concert Marimba can have a range of up to 5 octaves.
This instrument is a 5 octave Adams (1994 Van Sice Model).
Marimbas are assigned the number 111.212 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).
111.21 = Percussion sticks.
112.212 = Sets of percussion sticks.
28th August 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Teponaztli (or Teponaztle) is a wooden slit drum played in central Mexico by the Aztecs and related cultures. It is made from a hollowed out tree trunk with two slits on the topside, cut into the shape of an H, and usually decorated with carvings of deities or with abstract designs. Teponaztli can range in size from about 30 to 120 cm, and are struck with rubber-head wood mallets or with deer antlers.
This instrument was made around 1970.
Teponaztli 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.
9th December 2015 at Old Queen’s Head, London N1 (Wiyos gig).
The Kazoo is a metal or plastic instrument tube containg a wax paper membrane whch vibrates when the player hums into the larger end hole. It was invented in the USA in the 19th century based on traditionsal African instruments, and is played in jug bands, vaudeville music and early Jazz.
The instrument in the photo is made by Kazoobie Kazoos of Beaufort, SC. They call it the KaZobo and market it as "the loudest kazoo ever". It has dual resonators and an acoustically designed horn to project the sound.
Kazoos are assigned the number 242 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.
24 = Instruments which do not produce sound of their own, but modify other sounds by way of a vibrating membrane.
242 = Tube or vessel-kazoos. Instruments in which the membrane is placed in a box, tube or other container.
26th November 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre (Mezzanine Foyer), London EC1 (Raga Room's Veena, Violin & Venu concert).
The Saraswati Veena is a necked bowl lute played in South Indian Carnatic music. The name Veena dates back to ancient times, although those instruments were probably very different from the modern versions which belong of several different families of instruments. These include the Rudra Veena (a zither) and the Mohan Veena (used to refer to both a modified sarod and a modified Hawaiian guitar). The Saraswati Veeena Traditionally consists of a single piece of wood (usually of jackwood). One end is a large resonator and the other the neck which culminates in a ornamental dragon's head. At the top of the neck is an other smaller resonator often made of paper mache, cane or other non-wooden materials (this no longer functions as a resonator with it main purpose as a stand). Players sit on the floor and pluck the four main playing strings with two metal plectrums attached to index and middle fingers whilst the little finger plays the three drone strings. The other hand controls the pitch.
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 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.
321.321-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.