A Musical Instrument Without a Name

By Minnesotastan in Music, Video Clips on Apr 12, 2010 at 8:43 am

For this brief video, a mouthpiece and vinyl tubing have been combined to illustrate some basic principles regarding the generation of musical notes. It reminds me of the unusual musical creations of Gerard Hoffnung, who commissioned the “Grand, Grand Overture” by Malcolm Arnold (scored for three vacuum cleaners and an electric floor polisher). One instrument Hoffnung devised was the “hosepipe” – a mouthpiece attached to a garden hose.

And a hat tip to Yucatanstan [nice name!] for identifying the instructor as Dr. John Winkler, Professor of Trumpet at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts.

Via Arbroath.

Tags: musical instruments

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Lostfiniel
Apr 12th, 2010 at 9:10 am
I clearly remember this person coming to my elementary school and giving us a talk about music. Besides showing off his garden hose instrument, he played us one of the lowest notes you’re able to play on a wind instrument. But, being as that ways years ago (and that I probably never bothered to learn his name at the time) I don’t know who he is.
Miss Cellania
Apr 12th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Looks like a Hosaphone. http://hosaphone.com/

Which I coincidentally wrote about recently. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/52304
Mme. Petomania
Apr 12th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Is this the principle utilized by Joseph Pujol?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_P%C3%A9tomane
Dave H
Apr 12th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Not totally sure of the name, but I am pretty certain it is an old instrument, possibly baroque, developed by P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742)when he lived in Wein Am Rhine, Germany.
Miss Cellania
Apr 12th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Too bad we didn’t pose this as a “What is it?” Dave H is looking for a prize for the most humorous guess.
Dave H
Apr 12th, 2010 at 11:49 am
I was being serious.
Check out this website:

http://www.schickele.com/

But, I would not say no to a T shirt
CYBret
Apr 12th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
That’s cool! I used to do the same thing when I worked at a hardware store..though mine didn’t sound as pretty.
rossini138
Apr 12th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
This is a tool I use frequently with my brass pupils when I’m teaching about the harmonic series and natural brass instruments! A lot of people stick a funnel in the end to make it look more like a real instrument, but that’s optional! Mine is clear tubing my mother got me from the hospital… I don’t care to know what it was used for; most people however, use a plain old garden hose!
BikerRay
Apr 13th, 2010 at 3:49 am
“The funnel makes it louder” implies amplification, which isn’t strictly true. The funnel helps match the impedance of the tube with that of the surrounding air, resulting in a more efficient transfer of energy. It’s how old phonographs got so much sound from a vibrating needle – impedance matching.
jer
Apr 13th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Their going to start using these ghetto instruments in Detroit schools
C
Apr 13th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
@Dave H – I am SO glad you referenced P.D.Q. Bach. I only clicked into the article to see if anyone did! My high school choir performed The Seasonings…so fun!
yucatanstan
Apr 13th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Thats John Winkler, professor of trumpet at West Virginia University.

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