Subject: Ocarina Date: Sat, Mar 10, 2001, 6:19 pm I have acquired a wooden ocarina (pictured below). It has six holes on the side (just visible in the pic, between the Xs) and one small hole at the left-hand end. I have tried to play it, but cannot even produce a diatonic scale, let alone a chromatic one. However, as the piece is so delicately engraved, I can't believe it is just a toy. What do you think? Mike O'Regan Nottingham From: baz jennings Your Pic? (but if you can't play it it must be a toy or trade goods item)
Thanx for replying so promptly to my last email. The ocarina I pictured CAN produce "musical" notes - quite a few - but not a scale (in any key). However, assuming it IS either a toy or just for show, can you point me at a supplier of quality ocarinas in England. I am thinking of the good-looking "goose-shaped" Italian ones which are advertised on the Net. Are the little round ceramic jobs just toys for children? Mike O'Regan

We supply the most satisfactory and economic ocarinas availiable guaranteed concert pitch equal temperament/Boehm voiced playerfriendly.We are quoted by an article on ocarinas in AR[American Recordist]byRay and Lee Dessy"The clay pot...that sings" pp12-14issue March 2001.* you will find extensive discriptions textually via "ocarinas" on our pages.a better on-line facility for buying by mail will shortly be established you might send a cheque to me or to my american relatives currently for a basic small smooth but unpolished 4-5 -5+1/2 hole style;the most popular being in the key of D6 and costing only £11.50-£12.00[a finest quality selected 3mm personalimport fitted hellenic goatskin Thong is included with 550 word introduction which includes pictures tablature and music for an extra cost of £1.00]Post and packing is £4.50 in UK. Regards, Baz *We are recognised leaders of the ocarina revolution since 1963 and as yet unsurpassed for the "Q" factor.

>From: David Peterson >Subject: Ocarinas >Hi, >1. I am a musical instrument maker (hammered dulcimers, etc.) and >mathematician. I got interested in ocarinas when a art professor who >made ocarinas as art objects asked for help in making the hole sizes to >get appropriate scales. I think I have it pretty well figured out, >modeling the ocarina as a Helmholtz resonator with variable mass >loading, and my model fits pretty well with my several ocarinas. In >other words I ahave a partially verified mathematical formula - the >primary vagaries are the fipple impedance and equivalent depth of >holes. Do you or John Taylor have any information in this regard? >2. Will you be giving a makers seminar in the US in 2000? sned >particulars please. >DRPeterson

Hi, Currently engaged in similar work,but your terms of reference are quite different-though we may refer to the same specifics. For instance you say "mass" whereas we think "volume". Can you specify the cubic centilitre capacity of an ocarina by pitch? A visit to the USA possibly California is pencilled in for next year. ..... .. ......... ... ... ... ....... . ... ... What do you think? Baz

Outake-prehistory speculation

ps its possible that gourds or nuts could have established the principle of the globular flute prior to them being made of clay.More recent history [since 7,000 years ago]they were made of clay in China.It is certain that the principle of the blok-flut was understood in medieval times although no wooden ones survive from that period and are unknown to have existed.The rest is on our History pages

Ola,

Susan Rawcliff who has the "Soundworks' site has written a paper on complex acoustics in pre Columbian instruments and is very knowlegable and an inspired maker of ceramic instruments as well as a first rate performer on them. You may wish to check results of Dan Statnekov too. Thankyou for you contribution to the educational links on our pages

Baz

Roberto Velzquez C. wrote:

I am studing ancient sound artifacts using math and clay models and computers, as a M.C. tesis. The preliminary results of the estudy are located in Polifona Mexicana The study is in spanish. If you want, it can be included in your links. I am looking for experts and studies in this kind of artifacts. Roberto Velzquez Cabrera.