Chiff & Fipple
UPDATE!
Less than 24 hours after I alerted my readership about the Kazoo Threat, who comes to the defense of this instrument? My dear friend Norman Dannatt.
_____________________________________
Dear Dale,
How can you say all those unkind things about that beautiful and historical instrument, the KAZOO?
I am a great enthusiast for the Kazoo. It was the first instrument I learnt to play. I was only five at the time and on holiday with my parents on the Isle of Wight. I played my entire repertoire whilst walking with them along the cliff path from Shanklin to Ventnor. My entire repertoire consisted of Yes Sir that's my Baby, played over and over again. My parents took the Kazoo away from me, long before we reached Ventnor.
The Kazoo is definitely not a toy but a genuine musical instrument with a long and distinguished musical ancestry.
In the 17th Century it was known as a Eunuch Flute. It consisted of a wooden conical tube with the wider end closed. The narrow end had a membrane (probably pigskin)* stretched over it. Just below this membrane there was a hole which was the mouthpiece. A small drum shaped section with holes all round it was pushed over the end with the membrane. The player hummed a tune into the mouthpiece hole and the membrane vibrated in sympathy, producing a pleasant variant on the sound of the voice.
In 1636 Pierre Mersenne described it as follows: 'Music is played on it in four or five parts. It imitates better the concert of voices for it lacks only the pronunciation to which a near approach is made in these flutes. The little drum imparts a new charm to the voice by its tiny vibrations, which reflect it - concert of eunuch flutes is better than one of voices, which lack the softness of harmony and the charm of the pieces of membrane.'
In fact there used to be ensembles of eunuch flutes of various sizes, consisting of soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The performers own voices were, of course the same, relatively.
A eunuch flute from the time of Henry III of France is preserved in the Museum of the Paris Conservatoire.
Lord Francis Bacon (1561-1626) wrote, 'If you sing into the hole of the drum it maketh the singing more sweet'
At some time the name changed to Mirliton but this is nothing to do with the Dance of the Mirlitons in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, as they were supposed to be reed pipes or pan pipes and were played in his orchestration on flutes.
In 1819, Moore described a crowd of dancers, mountebanks, Mirliton players, etc.
During the 19th Century, the Mirliton found its way to the USA, some say bought there by the black slaves and closely resembling African tribal instruments. By the middle of the middle of the century it had gained its present name - Kazoo.
In 1884 it was described in Lisbon, Dakota as a wooden tube with catgut stretched inside.
Alexander Buchner, the musicologist, wrote in 1973, that Mirlitons were very important and much favoured by members of the early jazz bands. They were a substitute for trumpets in popular jazz bands.
In the UK there are now many Drum and Kazoo marching bands with hundreds of young musicians thoroughly enjoying themselves, whilst bringing great pleasure and entertainment to their audiences. These Kazoos are quite large instruments, as big as, and resembling, trumpets.
We have a very popular Radio show (it's been running for years) called I'm sorry I haven't a Clue. It is a quiz, compered by the famous jazz trumpeter, Humphrey Littleton. One of the most amusing items in the show is when two of the team have to play a well known tune, as a duet, with Kazoo and Swanee Whistle. I reckon I could take part in this myself with my rendering of Yes Sir that's my Baby. ('Rendering' in the sense of 'torn asunder')
Throughout the long history of music, no other instrument has had so many varied names. Here are just a few. (I expect you could supply another.)
Eunuch Flute, Mirliton, Zarah, Zobo-flute, Vocophone, Tommy Talker
...and now, today the instrument is sold worldwide, in great quantities, under the name:-
Norman
Click here to return to Chiff & Fipple newsletter.