Comments on: The Origins of 7 Musical Instruments http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339 Feel Smart Again Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Calli Arcale http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-464158 Calli Arcale Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:39:14 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-464158 Mark -- since you seem to know a lot about saxophones, can I ask you a question? I'd heard once that the saxophone family was invented in part so that there would be a voice analogous to the double-reed family in military bands. Oboes, english horns, bassoons, and contrabassoons are notoriously tempermental when it comes to climate; playing them outdoors is iffy enough, but playing them while marching in formation is a recipe for crappy music. Plus, bassoon fingering is, frankly, insane. I could definitely see somebody inventing a counterpart more suited to the rigors of outdoor play -- but it also sounds suspiciously like a "just-so" story to explain them. Do you know if this is true, that they were *intended* as a replacement for the double-reeds? Mark — since you seem to know a lot about saxophones, can I ask you a question? I’d heard once that the saxophone family was invented in part so that there would be a voice analogous to the double-reed family in military bands. Oboes, english horns, bassoons, and contrabassoons are notoriously tempermental when it comes to climate; playing them outdoors is iffy enough, but playing them while marching in formation is a recipe for crappy music. Plus, bassoon fingering is, frankly, insane. I could definitely see somebody inventing a counterpart more suited to the rigors of outdoor play — but it also sounds suspiciously like a “just-so” story to explain them. Do you know if this is true, that they were *intended* as a replacement for the double-reeds?

]]> By: Derek C http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-463988 Derek C Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:36:23 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-463988 The violin actually comes from the older viol. It had sloped shoulders, straight backs and sometimes included frets and more strings. The family of viols turned into the modern violin, viola and cello. The remaining viol is the upright bass. The violin actually comes from the older viol. It had sloped shoulders, straight backs and sometimes included frets and more strings. The family of viols turned into the modern violin, viola and cello. The remaining viol is the upright bass.

]]> By: Rich http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96993 Rich Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:13:06 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96993 Strange sentence: "The modern accordion was first designed in Austria in the early 19th century—unlike modern accordions, however, it only featured a keyboard on one side, with the other end was used to operate the bellows". Strange sentence: “The modern accordion was first designed in Austria in the early 19th century—unlike modern accordions, however, it only featured a keyboard on one side, with the other end was used to operate the bellows”.

]]> By: Jason! http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96832 Jason! Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:28:49 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96832 I am a concertinist. A concertina is NOT an Accordion... thank you very much. For more info (if you are really bored): www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8040 I am a concertinist. A concertina is NOT an Accordion… thank you very much.

For more info (if you are really bored):
http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8040

]]> By: Mark http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96751 Mark Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:58:32 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96751 Instrument makers are currently manufacturing saxophones from the sopranino to the bass (so that's six-soprinino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass) although the extremes on either end are in low demand, thus they're usually special order. There's also a small handfull of contrabass saxophones out there, which I believe selmer was offering as a custom built option a few years ago. One other fun fact that I like to mention regarding the saxophone is that, since Adolphe Sax studied instrument design for years while making other woodwinds, from a technical standpoint, the saxophone is the perfect woodwind instrument. The mechanisms for the octave key and pinky keys make a lot more functional sense than what we see on the bassoon, oboe and clarinet. Because of this the saxophone is incredably easy to play. The downside to this, of course, is that the saxophone makes it easy for someone to initally sound good and go several years developing bad techniques (because it's so forgiving) which really makes it impossible to become really good. Thus, the music world is flooded with "okay" saxophone players who aren't really up on their chops like the other instrumentalists are. And I should know, I'm one of them :) Instrument makers are currently manufacturing saxophones from the sopranino to the bass (so that’s six-soprinino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass) although the extremes on either end are in low demand, thus they’re usually special order. There’s also a small handfull of contrabass saxophones out there, which I believe selmer was offering as a custom built option a few years ago.

One other fun fact that I like to mention regarding the saxophone is that, since Adolphe Sax studied instrument design for years while making other woodwinds, from a technical standpoint, the saxophone is the perfect woodwind instrument. The mechanisms for the octave key and pinky keys make a lot more functional sense than what we see on the bassoon, oboe and clarinet. Because of this the saxophone is incredably easy to play. The downside to this, of course, is that the saxophone makes it easy for someone to initally sound good and go several years developing bad techniques (because it’s so forgiving) which really makes it impossible to become really good. Thus, the music world is flooded with “okay” saxophone players who aren’t really up on their chops like the other instrumentalists are. And I should know, I’m one of them :)

]]> By: Roneesh http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96740 Roneesh Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:34:19 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96740 The sax entry had some glaring omissions. As pointed out already, the Alto is not on the list, which makes me wonder how well this was researched. Also, the saxophone was poorly receive upon its creation. The first factory to make them was blown up actually. The sax entry had some glaring omissions. As pointed out already, the Alto is not on the list, which makes me wonder how well this was researched. Also, the saxophone was poorly receive upon its creation. The first factory to make them was blown up actually.

]]> By: Josh http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96709 Josh Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:52:13 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96709 I'm surprised I'm the first nerd to point out that Weird Al's name is spelled with no H on the end... cool article, though. Another instrument to profile might be the steel drum. I heard somewhere that it was one of only a few instruments invented in the 20th century. Josh I’m surprised I’m the first nerd to point out that Weird Al’s name is spelled with no H on the end… cool article, though. Another instrument to profile might be the steel drum. I heard somewhere that it was one of only a few instruments invented in the 20th century.

Josh

]]> By: John C http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96706 John C Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:41:27 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96706 Another thing not mentioned is the instrument that gave birth to the lute. The oud (pronounced ood) is an instrument that is very similar to a lute, only slightly larger. It was developed in the Middle East and brought to Europe during the Crusades. Another thing not mentioned is the instrument that gave birth to the lute. The oud (pronounced ood) is an instrument that is very similar to a lute, only slightly larger. It was developed in the Middle East and brought to Europe during the Crusades.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96705 Rachel Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:40:03 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96705 Also, you can get a soprano saxophone in the classic saxophone shape, but it looks stupid and the placement of the keys is such that your hands feel like giant gorilla paws, which is why the soprano is generally straightened out. Also, you can get a soprano saxophone in the classic saxophone shape, but it looks stupid and the placement of the keys is such that your hands feel like giant gorilla paws, which is why the soprano is generally straightened out.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339/comment-page-1#comment-96704 Rachel Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:37:30 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18339#comment-96704 It's interesting to find out that the three alto saxophones I currently own don't actually exist. ;-) It’s interesting to find out that the three alto saxophones I currently own don’t actually exist. ;-)

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