Re: Re: A different sort of Helicon


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Posted by Chuck(G) says Uh.. on February 03, 2003 at 22:16:14:

In Reply to: Re: A different sort of Helicon posted by Don Shirer on February 03, 2003 at 21:42:09:

These beasts bear no relationship to the ancient instruments. They were invented just before WWI by Max Martin, who chose to call them "schalmeien" for who knows what perverse reason. Max presented his instrument to Kaiser Bill, who thought they fit better as a warning device for his automobile than as musical instruments (true story!).

The generic name for these things is "Martin Trumpet" or "Martinshorn" (not to be confused with the place in Germany by the same name). We know them primarily as the two-toned "eee-oh" European police car horn. The German communists adapted them for use as "volksinstrumenten". Think of a band of Tonettes, but with fewer notes and not as well in tune.

There's no relationship to the ancient clarinet--these things are actually closer to mouth harps (harmonicas) in construction.


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