Garrafon Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 A while back, we had a discussion of what constitutes an instrument. I do not intend to rekindle that fire, but to merely relate my rather fascinating experience over this past weekend. For the first time in a rather long (obviously too long) time, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. There, they have a musical instrument collection (apparently I had either forgotten this or never been to that wing before). To check some of it out, check out the following site (they have quite a few pictures, but does not not even come close to the full collection): http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/department.asp?dep=18 The varities and types of instruments on display there are simply amazing. They had crazy keyed instruments (square "block" pianos, etc.), strange shaped horns, and, well, you name it. Of course, they also have a healthy dose of instruments of other non-western cultures. Needless to say it was fascinating and, despite the fact that most of these instruments never caught on in "popular western music" and cannot be purchased at Sweetwater or Sam Ash or the like, it certainly exemplifies the pevasiveness of music in all cultures and the endless creativity in devising musical instruments (the Serpentine being one of my favorites - why not have a musical instrument designed after a serpent). I recommend that everyone visit that collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrafon Posted November 28, 2005 Author Share Posted November 28, 2005 Just a bump, because I think people would really enjoy checking out this collection of musical instruments referenced above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfonso Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 Really nice to see... Guess the Amp .... now it's finished... Here it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillFightingIt Posted November 28, 2005 Share Posted November 28, 2005 Really interesting site there! I really enjoy antique and unusual instruments. Thanks for the link. If I'm ever in New York i'll certainly check it out. I had an experience with some unusual intruments the other day, I went to a concert on Friday night called TaikOz, It's basically a japanese drumming show with Taiko drums. Man they're good, the amount of expression they get with only percussive instruments was incredible. Well only percussive except for a guy who played the shakuhachi. It was incredible, by the end of the night my ears adapted to hearing things within the rhythms, pitches and harmonies. Although some of the drums were tuned alot of the pitch variences were achieved by a player placing pressue with one stick at a certain place on the drum and managed to change the pitch perfectly, I heard incredibly precise intervals (IV, V, oct). I'm not a very percussive person, but this was a really great experience for me. Link My Band: www.myspace.com/fergusband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 I didn't chime in on the last topic of what is a musical instrument. Here is my take. I believe that a true musical instrument is a device that can produce sound on it's own without the aid of an outside electrical power source. However the instrument could have the intervention of the human to activate the sound that the instrument can produce. There I said it! Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrafon Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 It is clear to me that the only true instrument is the Serpentine, and everything else is merely pig fodder. Check out a Serpentine bassoon: http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om24775.html And leather instruments? Who would have thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Jones Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Originally posted by Jazzman: I didn't chime in on the last topic of what is a musical instrument. Here is my take. I believe that a true musical instrument is a device that can produce sound on it's own without the aid of an outside electrical power source. However the instrument could have the intervention of the human to activate the sound that the instrument can produce. There I said it! Jazzman WOW!!.. you ARE in trouble now!!! Michael "I may be a craven little coward, but I'm a greedy craven little coward." Daffy Duck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Thanks Mike for the warning, I could use a cup to the back of the head once and a while too!! HAHA How about playing spoons on the legs, arms and hands? Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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