Hornophone
The hornophone is a musical instrument composed of a number of bicycle horns clamped into a metal frame. The horns are tuned to the notes of a chromatic scale and arranged so that the bulbs form a musical keyboard, much like the bars of a xylophone or glockenspiel. The instrument is typically played standing, by squeezing the horn bulbs.
History
[edit]
The instrument was anticipated in the 1920s as the two-octave "Horn Orchestra of Stanelli", built by British music hall performer Edward Stanley de Groot from 24 car horns.[1] American composer George Gershwin, inspired by the sound of taxi horns when visiting France, included four in the orchestration of his 1928 tone poem An American in Paris. For his 1929 piece March of the Automobiles, American composer Henry Fillmore invented the similar klaxophone, built from 12 tuned klaxons. In the 1940s and 50s, band leader and drummer Spike Jones used many unusual instruments for comic effect, including sets of tuned car horns.[1] Hungarian composer György Ligeti later included a chromatic set of 12 bulb horns in his 1977 opera, Le Grand Macabre.[2]
Known performers
[edit]In the 21st century, the hornophone continues to appear mainly in musical comedy acts, notably by British comedians Harry Hill, Nutty Noah, and Bill Bailey.[3][4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Davies, Hugh (2001). "Sound effects". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.47631. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
- ^ Lewin, Naomi (3 June 2010). "Toot Your Horn!". WQXR Blog. New York: WNYC Radio. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015.
- ^ "28 famous people and the instruments they play". Wakefield: Cossins Music School. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015.
- ^ Bill Bailey (hornophone) (20 September 2011). Bill Bailey live session: How I covered ... Gary Numan's Cars. The Guardian (music video). Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Nutty Noah (hornophone). Try out Medley on the Horns and Cowbells (video). Archived from the original on 8 December 2021 – via YouTube.
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