July 31 is observed as the Uncommon musical instrument day, to appreciate all the bizarre, truly extraordinary and weird instruments from across the globe. Every instrument producing music has a role that is distinctive. Here is a list of oversized, extravagant instruments with ornate indigenous designs producing unusual sound effects.
Alphorn
Alphorn is an ancient and traditional musical instrument of the Swiss people that originated in sixteenth century Switzerland. Earlier this instrument was used largely by the shepherds to assemble their grazing cattle. The alphorn is a wind instrument with a long horn made of wood, and a cup-shaped mouthpiece.
Oud
Oud is considered to be one of the most ancient musical instruments to have existed, hailing from the classical Mesopotamian age. This stringed instrument is likely considered to be the progenitor of the present-day stringed instruments. Oud is a pear-shaped instrument, popularly known in Arabic music and it consists of eleven strings.
Haegeum
The haegeum is a Korean traditional musical instrument that bears resemblance to a fiddle. The instrument comprises a hollow soundbox, that is made of wood and a rod-like neck. Haegeum requires the usage of two hands: the right hand is used to command the blowing, while the left hand helps to generate music through tension caused by the strings.
Yazh
Yazh is the ancient Tamil ancestor of the present-day instrument of Veena. It is a polyphonous instrument facilitated with open and gut strings, carved into the shape of a boat and the stem is made out of ebony. The ancient literature of Tamil India is replete with the name of Yazh, depicting its frequent use in the olden times.
Octobass
Jean Baptiste Vuillaume in 1850 designed an extraordinary musical instrument named Octobass. This instrument requires the engagement of hands and feet as it consists of three strings and foot pedals. Octobass is an enormous double-bass instrument that generates a distinctive sound and it is rarely found.
Copper Serpent
The Copper Serpent is the predecessor of the musical instrument named tuba. This instrument is used for playing Gregorian plainsong and was popularly used by Mozart and Wagner in their opera. Copper Serpent was traditionally made out of leather and wood, but the usage of copper began to be used later owing to its greater stability.
Djembe
The djembe (pronounced as Jem-bay) is a versatile West African percussion instrument, known for developing an incredible range of musical pitches known as slap (high), tone (medium) and bass (low). The instrument produces varying sounds when struck with hands in different areas.
So, which musical instrument do you think is the most bizarre of all?
