



Free Reeds

Free reeds are wind instruments with fibre or metal reeds usually placed flush with the sound pipe. Most free reed mouth organs can produce the same pitch with inhalation or exhalation, while the single pipe free reeds usually only sound with either inhalation or exhalation. Free reed instruments are found throughout East and Southeast Asia, tracing their origins to China. Chinese historical documents date the existence of free reed mouth organs in 1500 BC, with mythological sources dating them much earlier. These early instruments were made with gourd resonators, bamboo pipes and fibre reeds, like the modern day naw. However there are two metal wind chambers from the 4th century BC, which demonstrate an early use of other materials for wind chambers. These ancient wind chambers also show that the pipes were placed in two rows identical to the present day mbuat, and early sheng (called he or yu) also had pipes arranged in two rows. The circular arrangement of pipes found on the modern sheng and sho seem to have come later. Single free reed pipes have remained primarily a folk instrument until recently, and as a result there exists little documentation discussing their history or origins. However, there are numerous instruments found in China and the northern regions of Southeast Asia. Free reed instruments were virtually unknown in the West until Pierre Amiot introduced a sheng to European instrument makers in the 17th Century, which resulted in the invention of the harmonica, accordion, concertina and reed organ. The following free reed instruments are found on this site: Ala - Vietnam Bawu - China Ding tac ta - Vietnam Dja mblai - Laos, Vietnam Fangsheng - China Gaeng - Laos Hulusi - China Keluri - Sarawak Khaen - Thailand Lusheng - China Mbuat - Vietnam Naw - Thailand Pi joom - Thailand Sheng - China Sheng: Keyed - China Sho - Japan Sumpoton - Sabah Harps, Lyres, and Musical Bows

Harps originated in Africa and come in three main styles:frame harps, arched harps and angeld harps. Lyres are also Afican in origin and come with either wooden or skin tops. Musical bows, sometimes referred to as bow harps, can be string bowed or plucked and can either use the mouth, a gourd or the ground as a resonator. Chipendani - South Africa Ekidongo - Uganda Kora - West Africa Reeds

I have separated reeds and free reeds as they have quite different origins. Reeds are divided into single reeds, e.g. the clarinet family, and double reeds e.g. the oboe family. Single reeds seem to trace their origins to the Egyptian midjweh, and double reeds to the Middle Eastern or North African shenai family. Some double reeds are in fact multiple reeds having many layers like the Indian shenai. Double reeds are found with two body styles: conical, e.g. the oboe or shenai, and tubular, e.g. Chinese guanzi or Armenian duduk. The following reeds are found on this site: Arghul - Egypt Bin - India Duduk - Armenia Guanzi - China Midjweh - Egypt Piri - Korea Shenai - India Ocarinas or Vessel Flutes

Vessel flutes are commonly called ocarinas are found in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America. Their greatest numbers and most diverse styles are definitely found in the former Mayan and Aztec regions of Mexico, Central and South America. These come in open hole and fipple varieties, some playing only one note and others with complete scales. Ocarinas were found in Ancient China as well, often in the shape of eggs or gourds suggesting that these might be their origins. Africa vessel flutes are usually made from either gourds or dried fruit. The following vessel flutes are found on this site: Cedar Whistle - N. America Mayan Bird Whistle - C. America Samba Nose Whistle - Brazil Xun - China



