The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-13


with pair of heavy wooden sticks, and
produces a booming sound, which grows
extremely monotoRoUs when it is con-
tinued for several hours.
THE CHINESE GONG.
The alarm, or taps, is a Chinese musi-
cal device of peculiar construction. It
consists Of framework Of wood, upon
which is set a conical top Of hard wood
covered with calfskin. Projecting from
the top of the frame IS a hollow square
the size Of q cigar box, covered with
rawhide. Sounds are produced by strik-
ing the top, which emits bass notes, and
the projecting hide covered square with
drumsticks. This tuneful instrument
costs $3.50.
The cymbals of the Chinese are of
hammered brass, similar In design to
those used by American bands, and costs
eighteen dollars.
Brass gongs shaped much like tam
BORNE are used by Monaghan musicians
in the makeup Of their orchestra. a
first class gong can be bought for fifteen
dollars.
A gong of concave form and of very
light weight, that gives forth a tingling
sound, is another orchestral instrument.
1t costs $500. Monaghan fddles are Of
peculiar construction and emit sounds
which, from musical point of view, are
as inhaTmonioUs as the instrument is I'M
cOuth in appearance. Divested Of its
strings a Chinese fiddle has the same ap-
pearance as a mallet, with the handle
long and fattened to about an inch in
width and an eighth of an inch in thick
ness.
In the lower part Of the handle are in
serted two keys, one above the other.
To each Of the keys are attached two
strings of horsehair or catgut; the other
ends are firmly wound about the mallet
head. What varied and discordant
sounds are produced when the Chinese
fiddler runs his bow across the strlngsy
And besides the Chinese have the temer-
ity to ask $3.50 for such device.
THE BANJO, FLUTE, ETC.
The banjo of the heather may be very
appropriately hkened TO a small sized
frying pan with very long handle The
drum is covered with snakeskin drawn
tight. Three keys and four strings COM
plete the instrument, which is sold for
five dollars
The bass banjo is the size of large
sized snare drum and about half the
depth. -Four keys and the same number
of strings are used. The sum of S.. 80
will buy one for ordinary use.
A Chinese flute is purchaseable at
seventy five cents, if of ordinary make
and without ornamentation. 1t has ten
finger holes and gives vent to shriu and
discordant notes, which delight Chinese
ears but CRATE upon those Of the eau
casian.
In some cases Chinese orchestras con-
tain several futists, who, when together,
appear to vie with each other in the
emitting of the most dismal and shrill
tunes that ever lacerated human nerves. /
The clarinet is to the Monaghan what
the cornet is to us. It's evident use is to |
add variety to the clamors OF the drums
and cylubalS and the discordant sounds /
of flute and fiddle. 1t is a sort of medi- /
ator between all those revolutionary in /
struments, and has tendency to veneer /
the discord, which apparently is the ba-
sis of all Chinese music.
The Monaghan ear has become Injured /
TO such strains, and to the child of the /
Flowery Kingdom it speaks of home, /
love and revenge. So long as
he does not take summary vengeance /
upon his musically inclined fellow coun- /
trymen let him enjoy to the full the ag-
onies of sound which Monaghan orches-
tras produce.-San Francisco Chronicle.