Excellence On Obscure Instruments

[Vanadium 50]

Soprano saxes are naturally out of tune

How do you get two soprano saxes to play in tune together?
--- Shoot one.

In the last few decades they have gotten a lot better. This seems coincident with the popularity of straight designs. I don;t know if straight is intrinsically better, or market forces drove this, or newer models, which just happened to be straight were better, or, or, or... Lots of possibilities.

A quick check seems to suggest curved sopranos are still out of favor - yourt choices are cheap Chinese junk or the ultra-expensive custom jobs.

But as bad as a soprano is, the Benge #5 was worse. They go from player to player, each one saying "those other guys struggled, but surely I can make it work" AAnd then a year later it's off to a new home.

Lots of people want one, but in the words of Mr. Spock "After a time you may find that 'having' is not as pleasing a thing as 'wanting.

 

[Hornbein]

Angklung

 

[Hornbein]

Glass Harmonica

 

[Vanadium 50]

If we're going to do Bach, the ultimate in irony would be Sheep May Safeky Graze...on the bagpipes.

 

[Hornbein]

Malfunctioning Appliances

Toploading Washing Machine



Air Conditioner et al

 

[Hornbein]

Pan pipes

It doesn't look real, but it appears that it is. It's from Romania.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Remember SNL's Zambeer, Master of the Brew Flute?

 

[pinball1970]

Glass Harmonica

I know this is tricky but there are wrong notes 125 ISH. Makes it sound major

 

[Hornbein]

Gibberish

This song was a hit in Italy circa 1973.



Still going strong in 2012.



Someone named Bernardo wrote "I was at a concert in Italy in 1973. The singer called out in English, 'you probably don't understand a word I'm saying.' The crowd went wild!"

In related news, when Bandmaid played Mexico City the audience sang along in Japanese. The global village has arrived.

 

[Hornbein]

Gayageum

 

[Hornbein]

Guzheng

 

[Hornbein]

Mongolian Viola de Gamba

 

[Hornbein]

Xylophone

 

[Hornbein]

Lap steel



It's an abridged copy of a Dickie Betts solo. Better than the orig, if you ask me.

 

[Hornbein]

Piccolo/vibraphone/clarinet combo

 

[Hornbein]

Bass balalaika. Pretty cool sound. A lot like a tuba.

 

[sbrothy]

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone is better with a singing frog.

But if you want obscure instruments, let me present the floppy drive array:

Man, and I thought I was wasting my time with my amateurish geekery! I stand corrected! :P

 

[Vanadium 50]

When you can snatch the SD Card from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

 

[Hornbein]

Not my cup of tea, but that long thing sure is eyecatching.

 

[Hornbein]

Dombra

I love Ulytau. Best odd time music ever, if you ask me. Pride of Kazakhstan. Last I checked they are still around but it isn't the same.