Music is pretty much a part of our everyday lives. It brings out emotions that otherwise, we wouldn't be able to experience. The instruments that are used in creating said music are mostly overlooked and don't get very much attention. Today we'll be taking a look at some of the forgotten instruments that don't get enough recognition.
1. Daxophone
While the name may seem like a typo, it's not. In fact, it sounds nothing like a saxophone. Created in the 1980's by Hans Reichel, the daxophone, made of a wooden "tongue" can be played using a bow, or by being struck or plucked. The vibrations are then amplified through a microphone giving off a comical sound. Unfortunately, Reichel's incredible instrument has stayed obscure as it has never been mass produced or applied in modern music scenarios. The only time this instrument is known to have been published in music is in Hans Recihel's very own album, "Shanghaied on Tor Road."
2. Glass Armonica
While this instrument may not be famous, the man who created it is. The glass armonica is an instrument that was invented by Benjamin Franklin. It gets it's name from the Italian word "armonia" which means harmony in English. Made up of a series of glass bowls, the glass armonica is like a keyboard made of glass. It's played by moistening the fingers and applying friction to the glass bowls, almost in the same fashion of "playing" a wine glass. In fact, Benjamin Franklin got the inspiration for the glass armonica after seeing a concert where someone made music using wine glasses. This instrument was popular up until the early 18th century, when strange rumors said that the sound of the instrument was enough to make a person go mad.
3. Theremin
The Soviet Union didn't do a whole lot of good, but they did create one of the very first electronic musical instruments. The theremin, invented by Lev Sergeyevich Termen in 1920, is an instrument that has two antennas and is controlled without physical contact. It's played only by the movement of the hands which controls the pitch and sound of the instrument. It was originally produced as part of Soviet-funded research of proximity sensors, but was then brought to the west and patented in the United States. The theremin has been used in more recent music from artists like The Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin.
4. Hurdy-Gurdy
This instrument has the most amusing name by far! The hurdy-gurdy, or wheel fiddle. is like a violin with keys that has been around longer than the 11th century A.D. The wheel essentially acts as the bow used to play violin and the keys change the pitch. This instrument is similar to the bagpipes, as it has drone pitches as well. It's more popular in Europe rather than in the Americas, and it's most commonly found in traditional folk music.
