Musical Instruments
Theremin
Theremin is an Electronic Musical Instrument. It is invented by Leon Theremin, a Russian and Soviet inventor. Theremin is played without physical contact by the artist. The instrument Theremin has been used in many movie sound tracks and also used in concert music. It works on proximity sensors Theremin has a controller which consists of two metal Antennas which sense the relative position of the player’s hands. It controls Frequency of the Oscillators with one hand and the Amplitude (Volume) with the other hand. The Electric Signals generated by the instrument is fed to the Amplifier and then to the Loudspeaker. Here is a video by Rob Scallon along with Karolina Ike who has mastered this instrument. She explains in detail about the instrument. Let us watch the video. Video provided ...
Carillon
Carillon is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a keyboard, usually found in churches. It consists of several bells made of cast bronze fixed in suspension. These bells are tuned in chromatic order and can be sounded together harmoniously. All these bells are housed in bell towers. Here is the second biggest Carillons in the world, consisting of 100 tons of 72 bells housed inside a tower. Some of these bells are of the size of a car. There is a massive keyboard with which the Carillon is played. In this video Rob Scallon introduces Joey Brink who explains about this massive Carillon in the University of Chicago at 1928 Rockefeller Chapel. Let us not waste time and go straight into the video. Video provided only for illustration – Credit: Rob Scallon 00
Hurdy-Gurdy
Hurdy-Gurdy is a musical instrument which not familiar to many of us. Here is a video on this unusual instrument, captured by Rob Scallon and explained by Jim Carrol. Hurdy-Gurdy is a medieval wheel instrument dating back to thousand years ago. The name literally means a String Instrument of the Wheel. Hurdy-Gurdy was replaced by the Pipe Organs later. The instrument was initially used in the Catholic Church and its original function was liturgical (for worship) as explained by Jim. There are about 80 moving parts in the Hurdy-Gurdy instrument. There is a turning wheel, keys and tuning pegs to tune the strings to produce different notes. The wheel is turned by hand which produces vibration of the strings. The wheel acts like a bow. Let us watch Jim Carrol explaining about this instrument. ...
Pipe Organ
We are going to see one of the giant Pipe Organs in the world, an instrument having the size of a building. This is in the Presbyterian Church in Downtown Chicago and Mr. John Shearer talking about the Pipe Organ. The Pipe Organ is actually a wind instrument. The church is the supporting structure and resonating chamber of the organ, making it a vital piece of the instrument itself. It is a multi-instrument in one single instrument of its kind. He says, each one the pipes weighs about thousand pounds and this organ has more than 8000 pipes in total. The pipes are up to 32 feet tall. The bigger the pipes, the lower the notes played by it. Some pipes are as small as the little finger, which play really high notes. The pipes are scattered all over the place – front, back and the side. T...
Instrumental Music – World’s Strangest Instruments
Here are some of the World’s strangest and most bizarre musical instruments ever invented. Came across a video compliation of these instruments. I haven’t heard of such instruments. Have you? I am sure you will like this. Enjoy it. The names of the instruments are as follows (as it appears in the Video). Theremin Zuesaphone Digeridoo Friction Harp Glass Harmonica Pyrophone Juggernaut 4-row Janko Keyboard Chapman Stick Triple Neck Harp Guitar Video provided only for illustration – Credit: Viral Maniacs 00
Gamelan
Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Javanese, Sudanese and Balinese people of Indonesia. It is made up of percussion instruments like Metallophones played by Mallets and a set of hand-played drums known as Kendhang. Kendhang is used to register the beat. In Java, a banana shaped idiophone known as Kemanak and Gangsa (another Metallophone) are used as Gamelan instruments. Gamelan used to be played in traditional ceremonies as well as modern activities in Indonesia. Gamelan traditions were recognized as part of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia in 2014 by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. Javanese Gamelan is more like Relaxing in nature whereas Balinese is Energic and Sudanese is of Healing nature. In learning gamelan music, unlike western orchestral...
Instrumental Music – Drums – Blue Devils
Today, I am presenting to you another great team of Drummers known as Blue Devils. In the previous post, you have already seen the Top Secret Drum Corps performance. The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (also known as “BD” and “Devs”) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Concord, California, United States. The Blue Devils are members of Drum Corps International (DCI). They have finished first or second for the past 13 seasons (2007–19) and placed no lower than fifth since finishing third in 1975. They also hold the record for the highest score in DCI history, winning the 2014 DCI World Championship title. Read more about Blue Devils here Watch an amazing performance of the Blue Devils. Video provided only for illustration – Credit:...
Instrumental Music – Unusual Musical Instruments
Today we have a special video showcasing talents playing unusual musical instruments. We can see instruments like Saxophone from PVC Pipes, Xylophone made of Stone, Glass Harmonica, Carrot Flute etc. Whatever the instrument be, the music produced by it is amazing and the artists are higly talented. Please do not forget to show your appreciation and encouragement to the talented artists. Video provided only for illustration – Credit: Perdoscope 00
Instrumental Music – Drums – Top Secret Drum Corps
We have seen drummers. This, what you are going to watch is an exceptional performance by the famous Swiss Drummer team known as the Top Secret Drum Corps. It is a drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. The Corps became famous for their demanding six-minute routine, performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2003. The Top Secret Drum Corps is with 25 drummers and a colour guard section. It became one of the first non-military, non-British Commonwealth acts to perform on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle. Read more about Top Secret Drum Corps here Watch an amazing performance of the Top Secret Drum Corps. Picture and Video provided only for illustration – Credit: FCP Video Universe 00
Instrumental Music – Nadaswaram – Nagumomu Ganaleni
Presenting to you another famous Carnatic Song, Nagumomu Ganaleni in the Abheri Raga, rendered by Shri Thiruvizha Jayashankar and Shri Valayapatti Subramaniam. Shri Thiruvizha Jayashankar, born in 1940 is a well known classical musician and Nadaswaram Maestro from Thiruvizha in the Alleppey district of Kerala. He is the son of Thiruvizha Raghava Panicker and grand son of Thiruvizha Sanku Panicker who where Nadaswaram Maestros. Shri Valayapatti A.R Subramaniam known popularly as Valayapatti is an Indian Classical Musician and Percussionist and an exponent of Thavil. He was born in Valayapatti in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. He is the son of Shri Arumugham a well known Nadaswaram artist. Let us now listen to the Nadaswaram Kacheri by the duo Jayashankar and Valayapatti. Picture and Vid...
Jal Tarang
Jal Tarang, a percussion instrument has its origin in the Indian Subcontinent. A set of Ceramic or Metal Bowls are filled with water, which forms the Jal Tarang instrument. The instrument is played by striking the edge of the bowls with beaters. Both hands are used to play Jal Tarang. Sound is produced by the vibration of the bowl, water and the air. Bowls are filled in such a way that each one is tuned to a different pitch. Bowls are arranged in a semi-circle in front of the player. Let us watch a video on Jal Tarang. Video used for illustration only – Credit: Krithika Yegnaraman 00
Instrumental Music – Reshma Pandit – Tabla
Today we have Reshma Pandit and father Kumar Pandit on Tabla, with Anushka Pandit – Reshma’s sister performing on the World Music Day. Reshma hails from Raipur, Chhattisgarh in India who broke the gender barriers in Indian Classical Music. Her grand father Pandit Sampat Lal was a famous Tabla player of Delhi-Punjab Gharana. Her father Kumar Pandit – who is also her guru – is a renowned percussionist in Chhattisgarh. Let us watch the performance – the Father’s Day Special. Video used for illustration only – Credit: Beings of Rhythm 0-1