All Questions
Tagged with history instruments
24
questions
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2
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105
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How were the hole positions determined on a recorder, and how were the fingerings invented?
I recently obtained an inexpensive plastic recorder and am amazed that it’s possible to play a chromatic scale on it across two octaves. Many of the fingerings seem magical to me - as in, how did ...
- 109
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3
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3k
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Black and white keyboard keys
I've often wondered why there needs to be a different colour in the keys on pianos, organs and keyboards. After all, their location and shape differentiates them regardless. I can understand the need ...
- 195k
4
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2
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407
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What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed?
What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed? I was reading about gut strings, nylon strings, wire strings used on guitar, and wanted to know, but couldn't find the answer ...
- 277
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1
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487
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What's the earliest known example of music written for an electronic instrument?
The other day I stumbled upon Joseph Schillinger's First Airphonic Suite, a 1929 orchestral suite that includes a part for theremin. Since this was written 10 years after the invention of the theremin,...
- 161
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Did percussion instruments communicate spoken words in click languages?
There are a number of click languages in Africa where 'clicks' function as part of their language. It seems like it would be possible to communicate some words with percussion instruments (maybe a ...
- 403
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1
answer
823
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Why are band instruments built in flat keys?
Instruments in a military bands (and similar) are usually built in the keys of B-flat or E-flat.
(Whether these instruments are treated as transposing instruments or not is irrelevant. The key that ...
- 14.3k
1
vote
3
answers
167
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Why are western double-reed instruments smoother than double-reed instruments outside Europe?
When one thinks of the timbre of double reed instruments, we tend to divide them as two groups:
Oboe, English horn, bassoon. (Western instruments.) The sound is very smooth and pure.
Other double-...
- 1,200
13
votes
2
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3k
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What is the oldest instrument ever?
What is the oldest musical instrument played other than the human voice, but body parts are acceptable? Did Neanderthals use instruments to play music?
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How did Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) influence the mass production of musical instruments?
Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) initiated a revolution in music theory but in what ways did that translate into popularizing music ... particularly the mass production of musical instruments?
...
- 2,199
6
votes
2
answers
396
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Did the rain stick originate independently in multiple continents?
There is a traditional rain stick (percussion instrument) in Africa, Latin America, and I believe in Australia as well. Was it invented separately, or did one culture influence another?
Here is a ...
- 4,598
11
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3
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1k
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How did the harmonium and violin become an integral part of Hindustani and Carnatic music respectively?
The Harmonium hails from Germany and it is not an Indian instrument. Also, it is an equal tempered instrument. But the harmonium is a very common accompanying instrument in Hindustani Classical (...
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6
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2
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813
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History of the baby grand piano
The first pianos were made in around 1700. Researching a little online, I've been able to find lots of info on the history of the piano. But when was the "baby grand" piano first created and/or ...
- 11.3k
12
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3
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4k
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How did baroque music sound at the time?
Historical context
Let's for example consider Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (click here to enjoy). It was composed at the very beginning of the 18th century in Germany. At that time:
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- 223
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1
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What are common western saloon instruments?
This is a question that popped in my mind, but the funny thing is, I couldn't think of a lot of instruments that played during the Western Saloon period.
Here's all I can think of:
Upright Piano (out ...
- 11
5
votes
3
answers
297
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Hindustani music: Evolution of instruments
So, I was thinking about the evolution of instruments in Indian classical (Hindustani, to be precise).
We know Sa and Pa are achala swaras, and don't have any tivra or komal forms. Sa and Pa form the ...
