The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usually covers two or three octaves. Melodicas are small, lightweight, and portable, and many are designed for children to play. They are popular in music education programs, especially in Asia. The modern form of the instrument was invented by Hohner in the late 1950s,[1] though similar instruments have been known in Italy since the 19th century.[2]
The mouthpiece can be a short rigid or semi-flexible plastic piece or a long flexible plastic tube (designed to allow the player to either hold the keyboard so the keys can be seen or lay the keyboard horizontally on a flat surface for two-handed playing). A foot pump can also be used as an alternative to breathing into the instrument.[3][4][5] Melodica keyboards typically ascend from a low F note. In the 21st century, 32 and 37 note keyboards are typical, though instruments may have as few as 13 or as many as 44 keys. The melodica with the largest range is the Hammond Pro 44, which has a range of 44 notes.
As a free reed instrument, the melodica produces sound by pushing air past individual reeds corresponding to each playable note. When a key is pressed, it opens a valve blocking its corresponding reed, allowing air to pass through it. The sound of each vibrating reed reverberates in the shell of the instrument, which may be made of plastic, timber or metal. Players can control the instrument's volume with air pressure. Unlike most wind instruments, the melodica can play multiple notes simultaneously, limited only by the amount of air available.[6] An external microphone can be used to amplify the instrument or record its sound.[7] Hammond's Pro-44 melodion and Pro 24-B bass melodion each have built-in dynamic microphones which can be connected to a PA system or recording device via a single TRS 1/4" jack output.[8]
Melodicas range in price from under US$20 for a simple, plastic instrument to several thousand dollars for a rare, custom-made or antique model.
The melodica was first used as a serious musical instrument in the 1960s by composers such as Steve Reich, in his piece titled Melodica (1966).[9] Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal developed a technique consisting of singing while playing the melodica, resulting in a wide tonal and harmonic palette.[10] Jamaican dub and reggae musician Augustus Pablo popularized it in the 1970s,[11] and his son Addis Pablo takes after him in the same genres.[12] The American musician Jon Batiste was often seen playing a melodica on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[13] Funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell played melodica on multiple recordings in Bootsy Collins's discography.[14] The instrument is also associated with the Inti Raymi festival in Otavalo, Ecuador.[15][16]
Typesedit
Layout of a melodica keyboard with three octaves (36 keys)
Solo melodica
Clavietta melodica playing Irish traditional music, "Rakes of Kildare", played by Troy Banarzi
Melodicas are classified primarily by the range of the instrument. Melodicas with different ranges have slightly different shapes.
Soprano and alto melodicas are higher-pitched and thinner sounding than tenors. Some are designed to be played with both hands at once: the left hand plays the black keys, and the right hand plays the white keys. Others are played like the tenor melodica.
Tenor melodicas are a lower-pitched type of melodica. The left hand holds a handle on the bottom, and the right hand plays the keyboard. Tenor melodicas can be played with two hands by inserting a tube into the mouthpiece hole and placing the melodica on a flat surface.
Bass melodicas include the Hohner Melodica-Basso (discontinued), the Suzuki B-24 Bass Melodion[17] and the Hammond Bass Melodion BB-24.
The Accordina aka 'Chromatic Button Melodica', generally made of metal, uses the same mechanism and reeds as a traditional melodica. The keyboard is replaced with a button arrangement similar to a chromatic button accordion's keyboard.
Alternative namesedit
The melodica is known by various names, often at the whim of the manufacturer. Melodion (Suzuki), Triola (Seydel), Melodika (Apollo), Melodia (Diana), Pianica (Yamaha), Melodihorn (Samick), Melodyhorn (Angel), Diamonica (Bontempi), Pianetta (Guerrini), face piano[citation needed], and Clavietta (Borel/Beuscher) are just some of the variants. When a recording technician unfamiliar with the melodica called it a "hooter", the band the Hooters took that as their name.[18]
Hohner Melodica Soprano: right side, keyboard and bottom views
Galleryedit
Played horizontally, with two hands and an air tube
Played vertically, with two hands and an air tube
Melodica being played vertically, with one hand and without air tube
^Kato, Yoshi (September 18, 2018). "Jon Batiste of 'Late Show' to draw on New Orleans, NY sounds at local shows". Datebook. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
^Glory B da Funk's on Me!: The Bootsy Collins Anthology, retrieved 2023-06-27
^Wibbelsman, Michelle (2005). "Encuentros: Dances of the Inti Raymi in Cotacachi, Ecuador". Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana. 26 (2): 195–226. ISSN 0163-0350. JSTOR 4121678.
^. Ecuador Travel Press. 2022-10-04. Archived from the original on 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
^"Suzuki Bass Melodions". Suzuki Europe Ltd. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
^Darling, John (2000). What's in a Name? – The Book of Bands. Xlibris. ISBN978-0-595-09629-9.
External linksedit
Media related to Melodicas at Wikimedia Commons
Melodicaworld
March 05, 2024
melodica, blackalicious, neil, zaza, album, album, melodica, handheld, free, reed, instrument, similar, pump, organ, harmonica, features, musical, keyboard, played, blowing, through, mouthpiece, that, fits, into, hole, side, instrument, keyboard, usually, cove. For the EP by Blackalicious see Melodica EP For the Neil Zaza album see Melodica album The melodica is a handheld free reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica It features a musical keyboard on top and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument The keyboard usually covers two or three octaves Melodicas are small lightweight and portable and many are designed for children to play They are popular in music education programs especially in Asia The modern form of the instrument was invented by Hohner in the late 1950s 1 though similar instruments have been known in Italy since the 19th century 2 MelodicaHohner melodicaKeyboard instrumentClassificationWind free reed aerophoneHornbostel Sachs classification412 132 Free reed aerophone Developed1950sPlaying rangeUsually 2 or 3 octavesRelated instrumentsaccordion harmonica pump organ yu Contents 1 Description 2 Use 3 Types 4 Alternative names 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDescription editThe mouthpiece can be a short rigid or semi flexible plastic piece or a long flexible plastic tube designed to allow the player to either hold the keyboard so the keys can be seen or lay the keyboard horizontally on a flat surface for two handed playing A foot pump can also be used as an alternative to breathing into the instrument 3 4 5 Melodica keyboards typically ascend from a low F note In the 21st century 32 and 37 note keyboards are typical though instruments may have as few as 13 or as many as 44 keys The melodica with the largest range is the Hammond Pro 44 which has a range of 44 notes As a free reed instrument the melodica produces sound by pushing air past individual reeds corresponding to each playable note When a key is pressed it opens a valve blocking its corresponding reed allowing air to pass through it The sound of each vibrating reed reverberates in the shell of the instrument which may be made of plastic timber or metal Players can control the instrument s volume with air pressure Unlike most wind instruments the melodica can play multiple notes simultaneously limited only by the amount of air available 6 An external microphone can be used to amplify the instrument or record its sound 7 Hammond s Pro 44 melodion and Pro 24 B bass melodion each have built in dynamic microphones which can be connected to a PA system or recording device via a single TRS 1 4 jack output 8 Melodicas range in price from under US 20 for a simple plastic instrument to several thousand dollars for a rare custom made or antique model Use editMain article Melodica in music The melodica was first used as a serious musical instrument in the 1960s by composers such as Steve Reich in his piece titled Melodica 1966 9 Brazilian multi instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal developed a technique consisting of singing while playing the melodica resulting in a wide tonal and harmonic palette 10 Jamaican dub and reggae musician Augustus Pablo popularized it in the 1970s 11 and his son Addis Pablo takes after him in the same genres 12 The American musician Jon Batiste was often seen playing a melodica on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 13 Funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell played melodica on multiple recordings in Bootsy Collins s discography 14 The instrument is also associated with the Inti Raymi festival in Otavalo Ecuador 15 16 Types edit nbsp Layout of a melodica keyboard with three octaves 36 keys nbsp Solo melodica source source Clavietta melodica playing Irish traditional music Rakes of Kildare played by Troy Banarzi Problems playing this file See media help Melodicas are classified primarily by the range of the instrument Melodicas with different ranges have slightly different shapes Soprano and alto melodicas are higher pitched and thinner sounding than tenors Some are designed to be played with both hands at once the left hand plays the black keys and the right hand plays the white keys Others are played like the tenor melodica Tenor melodicas are a lower pitched type of melodica The left hand holds a handle on the bottom and the right hand plays the keyboard Tenor melodicas can be played with two hands by inserting a tube into the mouthpiece hole and placing the melodica on a flat surface Bass melodicas include the Hohner Melodica Basso discontinued the Suzuki B 24 Bass Melodion 17 and the Hammond Bass Melodion BB 24 The Accordina aka Chromatic Button Melodica generally made of metal uses the same mechanism and reeds as a traditional melodica The keyboard is replaced with a button arrangement similar to a chromatic button accordion s keyboard Alternative names editThe melodica is known by various names often at the whim of the manufacturer Melodion Suzuki Triola Seydel Melodika Apollo Melodia Diana Pianica Yamaha Melodihorn Samick Melodyhorn Angel Diamonica Bontempi Pianetta Guerrini face piano citation needed and Clavietta Borel Beuscher are just some of the variants When a recording technician unfamiliar with the melodica called it a hooter the band the Hooters took that as their name 18 nbsp Hohner Melodica Soprano right side keyboard and bottom viewsGallery edit nbsp Played horizontally with two hands and an air tube nbsp Played vertically with two hands and an air tube nbsp Melodica being played vertically with one hand and without air tube nbsp Wooden melodica Suzuki Wood Melodion W 37 nbsp Hohner alto melodica nbsp Patent drawing for accordina nbsp Accordina being played nbsp Donald Fagen with a Yamaha Pianica in 2007See also editAccordion Claviola Couesnophone Harmonica Melodica in music Melodica Men Pump organReferences edit Missin P 2004 A Brief History of Mouth Blown Free Reed Instruments Melodica Family Archived from the original on 2013 09 26 Retrieved 2013 07 03 Vibrandoneon Duskyrecords nl Archived from the original on 2016 08 22 Retrieved 2013 07 03 Oscar Bettison Composer Los Angeles Times www oscarbettison com Blow Keyboard with foot pump using wine cask bota bag cork tubes and a pump in a similar way to feet bagpipes Blow keyboard bagpipe mod in magazine Make The Ultimate Guide to the Melodica in 2023 melodicaworld com 2022 09 01 Retrieved 2023 01 10 How to Mic a Melodica Range of Sounds 2019 06 19 Retrieved 2022 05 26 Pro44Hv2 Melodion Hammond USA Retrieved 2022 05 26 Steve Reich Melodica Boosey amp Hawkes 1966 05 22 Retrieved 2013 07 03 Hermeto Pascoal Rebulico on YouTube Kliment and Watchtel 2007 Augustus Pablo Retrieved 2013 07 03 Caribbean Creators Addis Pablo Loop News Retrieved 2023 06 27 Kato Yoshi September 18 2018 Jon Batiste of Late Show to draw on New Orleans NY sounds at local shows Datebook Retrieved 2023 06 27 Glory B da Funk s on Me The Bootsy Collins Anthology retrieved 2023 06 27 Wibbelsman Michelle 2005 Encuentros Dances of the Inti Raymi in Cotacachi Ecuador Latin American Music Review Revista de Musica Latinoamericana 26 2 195 226 ISSN 0163 0350 JSTOR 4121678 Inti Raymi a party to give thanks by the rhythm of the stomp Ecuador Travel Press 2022 10 04 Archived from the original on 2022 10 04 Retrieved 2023 06 27 Suzuki Bass Melodions Suzuki Europe Ltd Retrieved 2022 05 26 Darling John 2000 What s in a Name The Book of Bands Xlibris ISBN 978 0 595 09629 9 External links edit nbsp Media related to Melodicas at Wikimedia Commons Melodicaworld Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melodica amp oldid 1204548654 Types, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
