The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-10
ORCHESTRAODDITIES
CURIOUS INSTRUMENTS USED TO ADD
REALISM TO MUSIC.

1t would be an odd thing II Ill these
DAYS of realism an orchestra could not
keep up with the times in the produc-
ton of realistic effects. The peal of tu-
bular bells, once heard with SO much
wonderment, is now too familiar to Gre
ate surprise, and equally well known is
the anvil, the old friend met with so
often in I'll Trovatore" and many 9th
er popular opera and musical selections.
Nowadays many theater orchestras
nOssesS quite a number Of instruments
whose names are probably unknown to
80 out of every 100 members OF the au-
dience. In many theaters the musician
who plays the drums also manlpulates
from 5 to 90 other instruments, most
of which would be unrecognized by any
other than the professional Some Of
them are used for representing noises
made by human beings; others are en-
ployed for reproducing the Language OF
animals" and Of nature. Played or
operated upon by an expert, the result
is often very successful.
Anoted inventor of these adjuncts OF
the orchestra has made remarkable in
strument from which may be produced
the puff puff" Of locomotive. The
contrivance from which this effect is
obtained consists of semicylinder of
sheet iron about yard III length. Two
wooden handles, in each of which are
set at different angles a dozen or more
tempered steel wires somewhat resem
bling a dismantled umbrella, are used
to make the peculiar noise Of the engine
putting Holding one of these sets in the
hand, tic musician strikes the sheet OF
iron with each alternately, slowly at
first and increasing in speed as the train
is supposed to get under Roadway.
Then the train comes to stop, when
is heard the peculiar sound Of the air
brakes and the escaping air. This effect
is produced simply by using couple OF
slender brass tubes soldered together,
with piston, blowing into them at one
end and slowly pulling out the piston.
If you want the roar of lions, there is
a musical instrument ready for you to
produce the roar. 1t is a large trumpet
shaped instrument of sheet iron, i'll the
large end Of which, near the opening,
are set two vibration tongues Of tin. 1t
is played upon with trombone mouth
piece.
One of the most curious musical in
struments is that used to represent the
"swish swish" of boats screw as it
whirls through the water. This is really
a musical machine. 1t is an ordinary
ckeesebox fitted to an axis, on which
it revolvcs, and the cylindrical part is
made of calfskin The ends are perfo-
rated so as to allow the sounds to escape
in proper volume, Pegs project inward
from the ends, and a handle and quart
or two of dried peas complete the outfit.
When the box is revOlved. the peas
strike against the pegs and roll along
the dried calfskin hides.
The revolutions are slow and irregu-
lar at first and then more rapid and
steadier Then you get the ''swish
swish" of the screw.
A cock crow is a very easy noise to re-
produce The instrument used is simply
a wooden tube with a reed inside, the
tube being inserted into the side Of a
tin cup. A "child's cry is easily pro-
duced by taking out the wooden tube al
ready referred to and blowing it, hold
ing one end between your closed hands
to give the different tones. A ''tOwn
clock, " which produces a good imita-
ton Of a bell striking the hour, is large
iron cylinder about 8 feet long and
inches in diameter the stroke being
made with smaller pipe covered with
cloth. One musician has an excellent
instrument which produces the SIREN
note of the steamboat. The noise is
made upon three reeds, which are sim
liar III shape to an organ pipe. These
are connected with one mouthpiece
and give three tones simultaneously.
The same musician has a curious in
strument which he calls snoring ma
chine. 1t is an oblong box, hollow,
with reed inside. and requires a pair
of lusty lungs to operate it, as it takes
considerable air pressure. The "gallop
of a horse" is sometimes rendered by
cocoanut shells cut in halves and struck
upon stone block. Another device to re-
produce the same effect is made of wood
en- blocks hewed into the shape of a
horses hoof, with real horsehoes attach
ed and followed out inside the shoe. 1t
is played by striking the shoes on a slab
of stone
To initiate clog dance "clog NAL
lets' are used. They are small wooden
mallets, with one end of the head hol-
lowed, and "jingles'' set inside the hol-
low spaces. A cuckoo" is small reed
like instrument, with one key to change
the note and a sliding piston to altar
the pitch as desired. A fine imitation of
the bagpipes is given on a solid brass
horn, with tapering bore and finger holes
similar to those of f1ageolet. 1t is played
upon with an oboe mouthpiece.
AS an example of the many instru-
ments required i'll an orchestra it may
be interesting to reproduce list of those
played upon by the drummer. is well
known American orchestra. They in
clude the various styles of xylophones,
drawing room bells, orchestra bells,
carillons, baby cry "bobwhite, "
cocoanuts to initiate the galloping of
horses, clog mallets, canary whistles,
cuckoos, crickets, ducks quack," hen
cackle, hand clogs, sand boards to imi
tate jig dancing, 10y bird, " locust, "
frog" hooking bird" ''popgun,
''robbin," cocks" the 'waldteufil''
or wood devil" making a weird,
whirring noise; ''slapsticks, to pro-
duce the sound of the cracking of a
whip; hand bells, ETC., in addition to
the customary drums and cymbals usu-
ally played by this humble but by no