Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 3:27 pm
No, it's not a tuba or anything like it. Each of those bells is driven by a metal reed, controlled by the keys. The Germans call them "Schalmei" or Martinshorns and they're first couisin to the BEE-DEE sounding horns of European police cars (no kidding). You've got all of 4 notes on this thing.
I don't know if B&S still makes these things, but back in the bad old days of the DDR, these were used as instruments for young kids bands. They were made in several pitch ranges, from the 8-bell trumpets down to the funny sousaphone-looking things.
They sound terrible, which is only redeemed by their tuning not being very good either.
There are still some adult bands in Germany playing these things;
Here's the web site of one of the larger schalmei ensembles. Click on the CD link for some sound samples, but be sure to lock away all pets and small children before listening:
http://www.schalmeienkapelle.de/
I don't know if B&S still makes these things, but back in the bad old days of the DDR, these were used as instruments for young kids bands. They were made in several pitch ranges, from the 8-bell trumpets down to the funny sousaphone-looking things.
They sound terrible, which is only redeemed by their tuning not being very good either.
There are still some adult bands in Germany playing these things;
Here's the web site of one of the larger schalmei ensembles. Click on the CD link for some sound samples, but be sure to lock away all pets and small children before listening:
http://www.schalmeienkapelle.de/