The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-17
ORCHESTRAL ODDITIES
CURIOUS INSTRUMENTS USED TO ADD
REALISM TO MUSIC.

1t would be an odd thing if in these
DAYS of realism an orchestra could not
keep up with the times in the produc.
ton of realistic effects. The peal of tn.
bular bells, once heard with so much
wonderment, is now too familiar to ere.
ate surprise, and equally well known is
the anvil, the old friend met with so
often in I'll Trovatore" and many 9th.
err popular opera and musical selections
Nowadays many theater orchestras
possess quite number of instruments
whose names are probably unknown to
90 out OF every 100 members of the au-
dience In many theaters the musician
who plays the drums also manipulates
from 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.
A noted inventor of these adiuncts of
the orchestra has made remarkable in
strument from which may be produced
the puff puff of locomotive. The
continuance from which this effect is
obtained consists of a semicylinder of
sheet iron about a yard in length. Two
wooden handles, in each of which are
set at different angles dozen or more
tempered steel wires somewhat resem
bling dismantled umbrella, are used
to make the peculiar noise of the engine
putting. Holding one of these sets in the
hand, the musician strikes tho sheet of
iron with each alte;~~tely, slowly at
first and increasing in ,Jeed 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 a 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 large trumpet
shaped instrument of sheet iron, in 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
cheesebox fitted to an axis, on which
it revolves, 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 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 very easy noise to re-
produce. The instrument used is simply
q wooden tube with 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-
tion of bell striking the hour. is large
iron cylinder about 8 feet long and D
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 in shape to an organ pipe. These
are connected with one mouthplece
and give three tones simultaneously.
The same musician has curious IN
strument which he calls a snoring ma
chine" It is an oblong box, hollow
with q reed inside, and requires PAIR
of lusty lungs to operate it, as 1t takes
considerable air pressure The gailop
of horse is sometimes rendered py
COCOdQut S06llS CuI III hoi'o' 49,
upon astone block. Another device 10 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. IL
is played by striking the shoes on q siaO
of stone.
To initiate clog dance "clog mai
lets'' are used. They are small WOODEN
mallets, with one end of tho head nor
lowed. and "jingles" set inside the MOI
low spaces. A ''cuckoo" is a small reeu-
like instrument, with one key to change
the note and sliding piston 20 ai'as
the pitch as desired. A fine imitation Oh
the bagpipes is given on solid prass
horn, with tapering bore and finger hole s
similar to those of flageolet. 1t Is piayeo
upon with an oboe mouthpiece
As an example Of the many instru-
ments required in an orchestra It may
be interesting to reproduce list OF those ,s
played upon by the drummer Is o wen
known American orchestra. They IN
clude the various styles of xylophones'
5~..x,;,,~, ~oo,r bells. orchestra bells,