TubeNet

I know this might be more suited to the ebay index but more people will see it here and I might get an answer. Here goes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Max-B-Martin-bass-a ... 638Q2em122" target="_blank" target="_blank

I'd buy this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/bass-alto-Horns_W0Q ... 638Q2em122" target="_blank" target="_blank

http://youtube.com/results?search_query ... rch=Search

will lead you to a number of videos displaying these lung-driven-accordions or orchestrated-duck-calls. Schalmei/Schalmeien in German.

They come in

helicon or tuba shaped basses playing C-D-G-B natural

single or double octave tenors through sopraninos with a G-g C-major octave

chord instruments playing g-c-e or g-b-d (5 pipes and 1 valve).

They started out as easy to learn instruments for political rallies in Germany after WWI. I never saw a live ensemble, and I was rather surprised (and sad) that they appear to have a following even today. Marching bands can be bad.This is a disaster.

Klaus

I'm delighted to have the background information. Thanks, Klaus.

(Why am I not surprised that Klause would know the answer? I should have just PM'ed him.)

Cripes, looks like something Dr. Seuss might have drawn while on acid - not that he ever dropped any.

Shawm is the right translation of German Schalmei. But these instruments have nothing to do with shawms. DP's source refers to train signal instruments and rubber bulb car horns, which are the true relatives of the musical crimes claiming being legit by stealing their name from a historical instrument.

Originally they were made by the German Martin company, which made sirens for police, ambulances, and fire brigades. Even if these siren sounds are generated electronically today, the sirens still are named Martinshörner in German.

The small local railways in Germany and Denmark used to have small motorcars called Schienenbus/skinnebus (rail-bus). It was not perfectly legal for young boys to sit up with the driver, but of course I did so often. For odd reasons I don't remember the Danish signs, when streets, roads, or paths crossed the rails, but I remember the letters on the German signs: LP = Laut Pfeiffen = Whistle Loud. The Martinshorn was blown by means of a compressor. When it sounded unexpectedly in the station area to hurry up late passengers, the effect could be rather stron

In the GDR these signal instruments were made by B&S: Blechblaß- und Signalinstrumente (Brasswind- and Signalinstruments).

After WWI these instruments were used by the social democrats and the communists for their rallies. Later on also by the nazis. After the WallFall Germany has experienced some outbreaks of Ostalgia, short for Nostalgia for the East. A conference of former GDR authors made up a Schalmei band and paraded the streets of Berlin. It sounded terribly, but was great fun. However I find the video samples on YouTube sad. Those people take themselves serious and they can fill halls with audiences. I know a couple of the recorded tunes, but they barely can be recognised. The soloing and the rock star attitudes are pathetic.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

The krumhorn is another infernal instrument... a double reed that the player has absolutely NO control over...

imperialbari wrote:Shawm is the right translation of German Schalmei.



Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

Would a player of one be called a schlemiel?

jeopardymaster wrote:

imperialbari wrote:Shawm is the right translation of German Schalmei.



Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

Would a player of one be called a schlemiel?

No, Music Directors can play everything (and most often, nothing... )

windshieldbug wrote:The krumhorn is another infernal instrument... a double reed that the player has absolutely NO control over...

The bass krumhorn even more so. Found this- This is what the instrument in question sounds like. Not pretty, mind you, but interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gqwk0dg ... re=related" target="_blank