 Hohner melodica | |
| Keyboard instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Wind;free reed aerophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 412.132 (Free-reedaerophone) |
| Developed | 1950s |
| Playing range | |
| Usually 2 or 3octaves | |
| Related instruments | |
| accordion,harmonica,pump organ,yu | |
Themelodica is a handheldfree-reed instrument similar to apump organ orharmonica. It features amusical 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 threeoctaves. 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 byHohner 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. Keyboards often have 32 or 37 keys, though instruments may have as few as 13 or as many as 45 keys. Larger models include the Hammond Pro 44 or the Ballone Burini Eolina P45, with 44 and 45 keys respectively.[6]
As afree 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.[7] An external microphone can be used to amplify the instrument or record its sound.[8] 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 singleTRS 1/4" jack output.[9] As early as 1968, Hohner sold a "Professional" model of its Melodica with a built-in pickup.[10]
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 asSteve Reich, in his piece titledMelodica (1966).[11] Brazilian multi-instrumentalistHermeto Pascoal developed a technique consisting of singing while playing the melodica, resulting in a wide tonal and harmonic palette.[12] Jamaicandub andreggae musicianAugustus Pablo popularized it in the 1970s,[13] and his sonAddis Pablo takes after him in the same genres.[14] The American musicianJon Batiste was often seen playing a melodica onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[15] Funk keyboardistBernie Worrell played melodica on multiple recordings inBootsy Collins's discography.[16] The instrument is also associated with theInti Raymi festival inOtavalo, Ecuador.[17][18]
Melodicas are classified primarily by the range of the instrument. Melodicas with different ranges have slightly different shapes.
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] andClavietta (Borel/Beuscher) are just some of the variants. When a recording technician unfamiliar with the melodica called it a "hooter", the bandthe Hooters took that as their name.[20]
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Media related toMelodicas at Wikimedia Commons