The ocarina is an oval-shaped vessel flute made up of four to 13 finger holes and a mouth tube projecting from it. It has a cavity that serves a Helmholtz resonator that reverberates the sound. Usually shaped like an animal, it can be made of ceramic, plastic, glass, or wood. It uses a special tablature for creating music.
The ocarina is one of the oldest musical instruments that dates back 12,000 years ago. It is an important instrument in Chinese and Mesoamerican cultures.
Types of Ocarinas
Kinds of Ocarinas include the following:
A multi-chambered ocarina is a double ocarina that can play polyphonic pieces.
With keys Ocarina
An ocarina with keys was made in the late 19th century.
It is made with keys that expand its musical range.
It enables the fingers to reach widely spaced holes.
A modern ocarina is a circular isntrument made of plastic and ceramic.
It uses the four and six hole fingering system developed by John Taylor.
It can be customized to produce a bass, mini-D, or mega-bass G sounds.
Choosing Ocarinas (Buying tips)
Chamber: Choose a two-chambered ocarina to double the standard number of notes to get a wider range of sound. Holes size: Look for an ocarina with holes in different sizes for a wider range of sound.