some unusual musical instruments
April 8, 2007 4:39 AM   Subscribe

The National Music Museum has photos and descriptions of a wealth of odd, beautiful and unusual historic musical instruments, including the schediphon, trombacello, Tristan trumpet, basset horn, lyre guitar, ophicleide... plus a few serpents. And if that doesn't satisfy your curvy horn jones, things get pretty serpentine here.
posted by flapjax at midnite (5 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
And from their extensive harmonica collection, the Graf zeppelin harmonica, harmonica with bells and trumpet organ harmonica and the highly unexpected walking stick harmonica.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:30 AM on April 8, 2007 [1 favorite]


As a musician, I totally geek out about this stuff. I always love unusual instruments, like a crush.
posted by Chocomog at 6:22 AM on April 8, 2007


These are musical instruments. Yes, they are pretty, but that's not the point. Where are the sound files?

It makes as much sense as a web site of sound recordings of the paintings of the Louvre.
posted by eye of newt at 9:53 AM on April 8, 2007


Enjoyed those unusual musical instruments flapjax, especially the trumpet harmonica, wow and the walking stick harmonica, what a great idea.
posted by nickyskye at 1:30 PM on April 8, 2007


It makes as much sense as a web site of sound recordings of the paintings of the Louvre.

Actually, no, it makes more sense than that. I agree, though, it's a drag there are no sound files: it's a glaring waste of web potential. But countless museums all over the world have for many years been displaying musical instruments as objects of visual beauty and historical interest, apart from their sound. Another thing to keep in mind is that many of the instruments presented on this site are very old, and may not actually be well-playable any more.

Now, here's an FPP I made awhile back, a site for musical instruments of the world, which utilizes web potential for sonic representation as well as visual. Obviously a much better way to present musical instruments on the web!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:50 PM on April 8, 2007


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