Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-30
TRICK INSTRUMENTS.
HOW TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS
OF MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA.
What q Man Must Know in Order to BE-
come . Drummer in Theatre Or
Observation-Disclosures of the Locomotive,
Hens Cackle. Baby's Cry, Etc.

The requirements of modern operetta,
musical extravaganza and such pieces as are
advertised to be "a nonsensically musical
whimsicality,' have brought many strange
musical instruments into use Trick inssru-
ments- would be a better name for many of
the curious inventions shown TO a reporter re-
Gently in the orchestra room Of theatre by
Simon Davis, the drummer of the orchestra
Mr. Davis. although called tie drummer to
distinguish him, might be termed with equal
Justice one Of twenty-five or thirty other
names, for he plays or operates that many in
struments besides the drums There Is some
hing Of trick even about the bass-drIm
playing, for it is operated by pedal which,
with one action, plays the cynbals at the
same time, leaving the operators hands free
20 use any other instrument which the music
or the action on the stage may require. One
Of the instruments which Davis plays is com
monty called the bells, or orchestra bells: in
Germany called the ''giockenspielT 1t con-
sists of number of short bars of steel resting
on straw ropes. The bars are played upon by
short hammers, the metals of which are con-
nected with the wood handles by whalebone.
The full chromatic scale, two and half
octaves, Is represented by the oars, "nich
are toned by Size Inc instrument most IKE
the bells is the xylophone, which consists of a
number of pieces of wood, strung together by
two cords, and resting on ropes of straw. The
method Of tuning xylophone is curious II
a note be fat il is corrected in tone by having
section sawed OF; if sharp, it is notchei ON
the under side by saw-cut. The wood keys
are played on by wood hammers.
ANvILs-wHIP-CRAckE
The anvils In an orchestra are far from be
ng such as smiths play upon by the SIDE oil a
forge, though Their tones are remarkably Ike
those OF the real article The anviis which
Mr.. Davis has are two pieces Of heiii-
octagonal brass, hollow, ana about eighl
inches long. Hemi-octagonal may not be the
scientific term Tor describing tute when
would be the octagonal II alike on both sides,
but which looks as If 1t hal been octagonai
and sliced down its length and the Hat side
covered over. That Is what they are They
are contained In little piush-iined ease, ana
might be carried IN an overcoat pocket, but
when struck with a httie hammer give out a
sound like an anvil IL tells story OF the
times that there has been 50 much music
written OF late relating 20 champagne drink
ing that instruments have been devised ami
patented To initiate the pop oil a champagne
cork. Mr. Davis has two such instruments.
one Is a simple wooden cylinder, piston
working IN one end ana captive cork IN the
other. II Is As simple as boys p"pgun, but
its sound has s5-a-bottIe bang tina, Is most
captivating.
The crack OF whip Is noise that Is heard
under very different circumstances on the
stage IL may be chorus describing roll
licking sleigh ride, Lady Gay Spanker who
emphasizes story with flourish OF whip,
or the overseer in Uncle Toms Cabin.
Whatever the occasion, the man sitting at
the end of the orchestra supplies the crack. y
Mr.. Davis does this with a little instrument
that looks like a razor-strop split down the
handle and there hinged. 1t is worked with
one hand, for very frequently at the same
sleigh-bells must be heard, and the other
hand is employed in shaking belt of silver
bells right merIily. The castanets used in the
orchestra are not played as by dancers, in the
palms of the hands, but are fastened two
pairs ON fan-shaped piece OF cedar, AMI all
Spain could not produce a castanet-player
who could get more rattle out of the genuine
article than does the drummer with this pro-
sale cedar fan waved with one hand while the
other rattles and raps a tambourine.
When in IA sensational play or buriesque or
orchestra nuinber the sound OF a ioconoaVe
should bc heard, the drummer turns 10 his as
sortment Of trick instruments and selects
three. The first represents the whizz and
whirr and putt, snort and rattle 1t consists
OF an arch OF sheet-Iron, the ends OF which
are rolied up under the arch. making two
supports for 1t 10 stand upon This Is played
upon by two bundles OF steel wires, fastened