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Left to right, top to bottom: Three strap buttons, partially turned; Knob, partially turned;
Shaft, turned but needs tapping;
Stainless steel shaft end, needs tapping; bearings, knob shaft, threaded plug, nylon end bearing holder;
Two adjustable drone bridges (need tapping); the crank end tube for the shaft+bearing+plug arrangement.
A shout-out to Phil and Alex at the wonderful Totnes School of Guitarmaking for use of their metalworking lathe for a few hours. Cheers guys!
Koorzaal of the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
SMOKE
Tom van der Zaal: alto saxophone
Floriaan Wempe: tenor saxophone
Durk Hijma: guitar
Timothy Banchet: piano
Steven Willem Zwanink: double bass
Sander Smeets: drums
7th May 2017 at the Fair Grounds Race Course (Cultural Exchange Pavilion), New Orleans, USA (on display at instrument seller stall).
The Cuban Laud is derived from the Spanish Laud, though usually smaller and tuned higher. It has 12 metal strings in 6 double courses, and usually two f-holes with a central teardrop as soundhole.
The instrument in the photo was made by Gilberto Méndez Méndez of Santiago de Cuba.
Lauds 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.
26th January 2018 at Drygate Brewery, Glasgow (Torupilli Jussi gig).
The Torupill is an Estonian Bagpipe (toru means pipe, pill is a musical instrument) They have a bag, blow pipe, chanter and one or two or occasionally three drones. Bagpipes were introduced to the country from either Germany or Sweden. Torupilli were first mentioned in the 16th century, and were a highly popular musical instrument until the middle of the 19th century, but then gradually fell out of use.
This instrument has three drones which line up horizontally from the bottom of a long thin bag.
Torupilli are assigned the number 422.211-62 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.
422.2 = Single Reed Instruments. The pipe has a single 'reed' consisting of a percussion lamella.
422.21 = Single clarinets.
422.211 = With cylindrical bore.
422.211-62 = With Flexible Air Reservoir.
20th May 2011 at the Jazz Café, London NW1 (Susana Baca gig).
The Cajita is a small wooden box with a hinged top used as a percussion instrument in Peru. The sound comes from opening and closing the lid with one hand, whilst using the other to hit the side of the box with a stick.
Cajitas 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.
10th April 2016 at Kenwood House, London NW3 (Saraband gig).
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.
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.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Trumpet is constructed from brass tubing with a cylindrical bore. Its predecessors of go back on ancient times. However the modern version with valves was developed in Germany in the early 19th century. As well as changing the pitch by varying the lip aperture and tension, this can also by achieved by engaging the piston valves.
This instrument was made in 1925-27 by the York Band Instrument Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(Valve) Trumpets are assigned the number 423.233 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.
423.233 = With Cylindrical Bore.
24th May 2016 at the V&A (Europe 1600-1815 galleries), London SW7.
The European Lute descended from the same ancestor as the North African and the Middle Eastern Oud. It has a pear shaped soundboard and a bent back peghead.
During the Baroque era (c. 1630-1750) the the number continued to grow until it reached 14 (and occasionally as many as 19). These instruments had up to 26–35 strings, a longer neck and more frets. Over the course of the era the lute was increasingly relegated to the continuo accompaniment, and was eventually superseded in that role by keyboard instruments..
This instrument was probably made in Venice around 1630. It has 11 courses (10 double strings and one single one). The back has nine ivory ribs with ebony stringing intervening, and the neck is decorated with floral scrollwork in marquetry of the same substances.
Lutes 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.
11th September 2010 at Potters Fields Park, London SE1.
The Baritone Horn is a low Brass instrument. It has three valves and a cylindrical bore.
Baritone Horns are assigned the number 423.232 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 = 423.23 = Trumpets with Valves. The pitch can be changed by connecting or disconnecting auxiliary lengths of tube.
423.232 = With Semi-Conical Bore.
24th September 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Dril-bu is a Tibetan brass handbell. It is shaken during Buddhist prayers in order to attract beneficent spirits and to frighten away evil ones.
Dril-bus are assigned the number 111.242.1 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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.
111.242 = Bells. The vibration is weakest near the vertex.
111.242.1 = Individual bells.
2nd March 2019 at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London W6 (KGB 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 Button Accordion or Box is the name in Ireland for the two row Diactonic Accordion (the English term Melodeon being restricted to the one row). Button Accordions look just like English Melodeons, but there is usually a semi-tone between the rows rather than a fourth.
The instrument in the photo is a Briggs Button Accordion. It was made in the 1990s for Dermot Byrne by Dougie Briggs of Manchester. He makes small quantities of high quality boxes.
Button Accordions 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.
18th May 2016 at the V&A (Europe 1600-1815 galleries), London SW7.
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 by Pascal Taskin of Paris in 1786. It is smaller than most Harpsichords being 1.8 m long by 7.35 m wide by 2 m high. In compaison this instrument in the same galleries ((www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/27379761441/) is 2.2 m long, 7.7 m wide and 2.4 m high). Both the inside and outside of the case are decorated with gilt chinoiseries consisting of small figures in fantastic landscapes.
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.
21st August 2016 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 Hun is a Korean globular shaped vessel flute derived from the Chinese Xun. It is made of baked clay or other ceramics, and has a blowing hole on top and several finger holes. It is used in Buddist ceremonies and court music ensembles.
This instrument was made around 2000. It is made of earthenware with green crackled glaze, and has five finger holes.
Huns are assigned the number 421.13 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.
421.1 = Flutes without a Duct. The player makes a ribbon-shaped flow of air with his lips.
421.13 = Vessel flutes (without distinct beak). The body of the pipe is not tubular but vessel-shaped.
Koorzaal of the Royal Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
SMOKE
Tom van der Zaal: alto saxophone
Floriaan Wempe: tenor saxophone
Durk Hijma: guitar
Timothy Banchet: piano
Steven Willem Zwanink: double bass
Sander Smeets: drums
1960's Montgomery Wards Airline Guitar (Modified)
I rewired this guitar in the late 1970's, adding a pickup taken from an old Harmony guitar (the gold pickup). The pickups are wired to separate output jacks, for true stereo. Basically, I destroyed it's resale value, but that doesn't matter, cause I'd never sell it....it was my deceased oldest brothers guitar, and along with that emotional attachment, it's also a great guitar for what it is (an el cheapo from Montgomery Wards Dept Store).
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Bass Drum is used to mark time. When used in a military or marching band they are usually played sideways in front of the musician. Their orignins lie in the Davul and Ottoman Empire bands.They are also part of the Drum Kit found in Jazz and popular music, and (with a Snare Drum) the traditional lineup of a New Orleans Brass Band.
This instrument was made around 1808, probably in Scotland. It is a military style Long Drum (confusingly the term is sometimes applied to Tenor Drums as well as Bass Drums) and is painted with the insignia of the Royal Perthshire Militia.
Bass Drums are assigned the number 211.212.1 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.
211.2 = Tubular Drums. Instruments in which the body is tubular.
211.21 = Cylindrical Drums. Instruments in which the body has the same diameter at the middle and end.
211.212 = Instruments which have two usable membranes.
211.212.1 = single instruments.
15th 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 Chromatic Accordion is a type of button accordion where the right-side keyboard consists of rows of buttons arranged chromatically (in minor thirds along the length of the keyboard, and in half steps going across on the diagonal). It is unisonic producing the same note when the bellows are pushed and pulled. The chromatic accordion was created in the 1850s in Austria by F. Walter who rearranged the reeds on a 3-row Diactonic Accordion.
This instrument was made by Cesare Pancotti in Macerata in the Marche region of Italy in the last quarter of the 19th century. This company made accordions between active 1865 and 1950. On the right side there are 19 square bone keys in two rows, and on the left side 4 bone-tipped bass keys and an air lever.
Chromatic Accordions 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 Sihu is a four string Chinese spike fiddle, part of the Huqin family of instruments. It is much less common than the two string Erhu. While sometimes played in Chinese Opera it is more closely associated with drum songs, along with Sanxian, Pipa and Yangqin.
This instrument was made before 1888.
Sihus are assigned the number 321.313-71 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.
321.313 = Spike Tube Lutes. Instruments in which the handle passes diametrically through the walls of a tube.
321.313-7 = Instruments where the strings are vibrated by bowing.
321.313-71 = Instruments where the strings vibrated using a bow.
5th February 2017 at Rossotrudnichestvo in UK, London W8.
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 Garmon (or Garmoshka) is a Russian 2-row Button Accordion, usually with 25 treble buttons sand 25 bass buttons. Unlike other Diatonic Accordions it is unisonoric (the same note is played pumping in and out).
Garmons 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.
29th March 2014 at the Royal Festival Hall (St Paul’s Roof Pavilion), London SE1 (Talk at “Pull Out All the Stops” Festival).
House (or Residence) Organs are Barrel Organs which were played in private homes. They are mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and pipes housed in a case. It is played by turning a crank, with the music encoded onto wooden barrels.
This instrument is a 14 note Reed Organ by Collard & Co of London from around 1822.
In this photo: The front of the instrument is removed to show the Barrel.
Reed Pipe House Organs 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 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 in 1740-1750 somewhere on the Iberian penisular (probably Portugal), in a style reminiscent of earlier Renaissance guitars. It has 5 courses and 12 strings (3 x 2 and 2 x 3).
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.
23rd (or rather early hours of 24th) January 2016 at Drygate Brewery, Glasgow (duo with Abigail Washburn).
The Baritone Banjo is a very recent invention (there seems to be no equivalent in the old Banjo Orchestras) whci aims to be the "missing link" between a cello banjo and the regular five-string. The Gold Tone ML-1 was designed in collaboration with Béla Fleck has a 12 inch pot and is tuned a fifth below standard pitch. Many players in the past of low tuned their regular banjos and Fleck was particularly inspired by John Hartford.
Baritone Banjos are assigned the number 321.312-6 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.
321.31 = 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.
321.312-6 = Instruments where the Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
25th March 2018 at the British Museum (BP Theatre), London WC1 (at Faiths in Tune festival).
The Shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown Flute with 5 fingerholes, traditionally made from bamboo. Bamboo Flutes came to Japan from China in the 6th century.
Shakuhachis are assigned the number 421.111.12 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.
421.11 = End-Blown Flutes. The player blows against the sharp rim at the upper open end of a tube.
421.111 = Individual end-blown flutes.
421.111.1 = Open single end-blown flutes. The lower end of the flute is open.
421.111.12 = With Fingerholes.
24th May 2016 at the V&A (British galleries), London SW7.
The Claviorgan (or Claviorganum) is a musical instrument in which strings and pipes are combined within a single case. They vary in terms of the nature of the string part (e.g. Clavichord, Spinet, Piano) and the pipes part (e.g. reed organ, pipe organ), and whether the two parts can be played together from a single keyboard, or if there are separate keyboards. A Ph.D. thesis has identified 118 surviving instruments made between 1459 and 1920 which fit the definition.
This instrument was made by Lodewyk Theewes, (formerly of Antwerp) in London in 1579. It combines an Harpischord and an Organ), and is the only surviving English keyboard instrument datable to the sixteenth century. It is badly damaged condition, and the keyboard and all but one pipe are missing. The decoration on the lid includes a painting of Orpheus playing to monkeys
Claviorgans are assigned the numbers 314.122-6-8 and 421.112 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.
and
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.
421.11 = End-Blown Flutes. The player blows against the sharp rim at the upper open end of a tube.
421.112 = Sets of end-blown flutes or panpipes. Several end-blown flutes of different pitch are combined to form a single instrument.
i came across this fiddle in a 'house clear out' some years ago. The label inside reads - Antonius Stradivarius. Cremona. Fecit Anno 1731. I'm not booking a holiday abroad yet., the odds against finding the real thing are slim to none. The fact that the label is not printed in Latin isn't a good start.
10th June 2016 at Royal Academy of Music Museum (Piano Gallery), London NW1.
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 1764 by Jacob Kirkman of London. It follows the Flemish tradition of building popuarised by the Ruckers family of Antwerp.
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.
22nd July 2017 at Woodberry Wetlands, London N16.
The Cununo is a Colombian drum, similar to a small conga but more conical in shape. Two of these drums of different sizes are played in the Marimba groups of the Pacific coast, usually by different players. The larger macho usually stays with a basic pattern, while the smaller hembra engages in fills and improvisations The instrument is closed at the bottom except for a small hole.
Cununos are assigned the number 211.251.2 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.
211.2 = Tubular Drums. Instruments in which the body is tubular.
211.25 = Conical Drums. Instruments in which the body is conical-shaped.
211.251 = Instruments which have only one usable membrane.
211.251.2 = Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
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.
This instrument was made around 1700 by Matthias and Augustinus Kaiser in Dusseldorf, Germany.
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.