Can you play a music instrument? I’ve always wanted to play the drums but have never got round to practicing. Learning to play an instrument takes time and commitment. Ask anyone what instrument they play and they’ll usually answer with the guitar, the drums, the piano, or some kind of instrument they can play with their mouth. However, would you know what they meant if they told you they played the theremin, gravikord or bazantar? If you don’t know know what they are then you’re about to find out…
1. Stalacpipe Organ
The world’s largest musical instrument, the Great Stalacpipe Organ, is located deep in the Luray Caverns in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Covering three and a half acres the harmonic sounds are produced when the stalactites are electronically tapped by rubber-tipped mallets. Mr. LeIand W. Sprinkle of Springfield, Virginia – a mathematician and electronic scientist at the Pentagon – is to thank for the magnificent instrument after he invented it in 1954.
2. Cymbalom
The cymbalom is referred to in various names: the cymbalum, cymbalom, cimbalom (most common spelling), ţambal, tsymbaly, tsimbl, santouri, or santur. It’s a type of hammered dulcimer found mainly in the music of Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Greece and Iran. In the video the instrument player looks like he has really long nails but they are actually specific tools attached to his fingers and are called “Bow Hammers”. They allow the player to pick at the bow strings and create that unique sound.
3. Bazantar
This instrument is a five string double bass with 29 sympathetic and four drone strings and has a melodic range of five octaves. It has been specifically designed to withstand the increased string tension which creates that sympathetic sound.
4. Musical Saw
Who would have thought a workman’s tool could be used as a musical instrument? The ethereal tone it creates when played is quite similar to haunting sound of a woman’s clear voice. Alfred Schnittke used the musical saw in a number of his works. The instrument is classified as an idiophone under the Hornbostel-Sachs system of musical instrument classification.
5. Kaisatsuko
Yuichi Onoue (in the video) of Tokyo, Japan is the inventor of the kaisatsuko. Unlike a bow that is usually used to vibrate the strings of an instrument the kaisatsuko uses a small hand crank which spins a nylon wheel. The rotating wheel acts just like a mechanical bow in a technique that is very similar to the Hurdy Gurdy, which was invented in the 11th century.
6. Gravikord
Robert Grawi invented the gravikord in 1986. It’s an electric double harp that has been modeled on the 21 string West African kora. It is made of welded stainless steel tubing, with 24 nylon strings. What differs it from the kora is the bridge which is a synthetic material designed differently allowing for a greater range of pitches.
7. The Glass Armonica
The name glass armonica derives from the Italian word “armonia”, which means harmony. This unusual instrument is made up of a series of glass bowls or goblets that graduate in size, resulting in gentle, harmonious tones. The mechanical version was invented by Benjamin Franklin.
8. Theremin
Creating a sound very similar to the musical saw the theremin is one of the earliest fully electronic musical instruments. Russian inventor Léon Theremin created it back in 1919. What makes it so special, even to this day, is the ability to play it without actually touching it. It consists of two radio frequency oscillators and two metal antennas. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.
9. Ondes Martenot
Maurice Martenot invented this instrument in 1928. It is an electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and slide. The sonic capabilities of the instrument were enhanced with the addition of the filter banks and switchable loudspeakers. It lets off an eerie sound very similar to the theremin and the musical saw. Many famous composers have used the ondes martenot including Olivier Messiaen.
10. Aeolian Harp
The Aeolian Harp is unique becaue it’s played by the wind. It gets its name from Aeolus, the Greek god of wind. During the Romantic Era these harps were very popular in households. Although they are less popular these days they are still hand-crafted.
