Kazoos

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 02:48 PM

Just can't wait , Keith!!Little black number at the ready.

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 04:26 AM

Just looking at the Windy Bottom pics and I feel it is my duty to remind all ensemble members to (1) keep practicing. (2)ensure that dinner jackets for the Gentltmen players and the little black numbers for our genteel members are kept in a moth free enviroment. (3) The litle white gloves are clean. At the moment I am composing a choral suite around the Gloves entitled Little White Gloves and just to whet your appetites a small snipet without the music It goes (Ha HA Ha He HE He little white gloves)I am sure you will appreciare that this is on my part a masive undertaking as I haven't started to write the tune yet. Keith

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Sonnet
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 05:47 PM

Selby:may I be the first to congratulate you on your sensitive playing on the soundtrack of the Toffee Crisp advert. I always knew you had it in you. J.

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 07:23 AM

Why would anyone want to play a Kazzoo down a dig havn.t archelogists got enough on with out Kazoo's

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 12:47 PM

Yes Ive tried it and through a Dig but I was thinking of a stand alone kazoo Keith

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 03:31 AM

Selby, you can convert a standard (treble or tenor) kazoo with the pipe from the vaccum cleaner--see here.

Zzzzteve

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 01:19 PM

Has anyone found a Bass Kazoo yet? Keith

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 08:55 AM

Great news for all you guys who need to travel light: the backpacker kazoo is now available from Bedroom Acoustic Music in Ampthill, Beds. UK.

Steve

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 07:46 AM

did you wear one of those little fringe dreeses and white boots?

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Rincon Roy
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 11:05 AM

Tucson, my desert city hometown, hosts a grand cowboy-pioneer parade each year. I remember a vast "marching" kazoo band recruited by a local radio or TV station. Membership was open to everyone who showed up at the starting point with a kazoo: A vast mob of crazed Kazooers enthusiastically buzzing away. No one could figure out what they were supposed to be playing! Like a swarm of giant mosquitos, they just buzzed and rumbled their way down the parade route to the astonishment and delight of all.

Subject: RE: Kazoos
From: Firecat
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 06:51 PM

This might sound a bit daft, but I actually enjoyed the kazoo ensemble, even though I did nearly die laughing!!

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 12:01 PM

Nightingale I hope you get a competent tutor someone like Catherine Anthole who is realy a good Northumbrian kazoo piper. A little thought that may help you play it( the kazoo) in the sharp and not the flat may be benifical. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Nightingale
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:25 AM

Selby, yes it is true that I am studying the instrument at a Northern University, but practicing in the flat is proving to be a difficult task! I'm hoping to set up an ensemble here and am awaiting news of who my kazzoo tutor will be!! R

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 04:43 AM

In reply to Miss Sonnet as you may know in the 17c the wooden forerunner of the kazoo was known as the Eunuch Flute.In his seminal work "Membranes for all" Chris the Eunuch introduced many facets of the Kazoo,this may be a good starting point,although I beliive Chris the Eunuch died with out issue I understand he has a relation in Yorkshire still alive called Malcom the Grumpy who holds a seat in the Whitby area. A later work by the French writer and instrumentalist Pat Isserie on the Mirilton (french for Cream Horn ) is I believe available at the large shopping emporium T E Sco's. It is a little known fact the the instrument is a member of the Membraphone family and the one that got the Grade 8 (Peni Stone) is thinking of studiosly studying the instrument for her thesis, this may be a good starting point. I hope this will be of asistance to you and wish you luck in attempting to change instruments,always a difficult task. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Sonnet
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 05:16 PM

Selby:The said member of Windy Bottom Kazoo Ensemble is reported to have got her Grade 8. Could you recommend a good tutor book? So far I have only found book 1 in the TUNE A DAY series, which is currently out of print. As my specialism in the Kazoo Ensemble is siren whistle, I am anxious to learn a new musical discipline. J.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 01:08 PM

To those of you that hav'nt seen or heard Micca's jpeg you are missing a treat. I thank Micca for his support and as a reward if he practices realy realy hard and can pass a stiff audition we might be able to let him join the ensemble in the near future. Did you know one of the ensemble is studying the instrument on the folk degree at Newcastle Uni. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Micca
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 08:10 AM

Kit Kat, you should hear the version of "The William Tell Overture" the ensemble did at Windy Bottom, not to mention Geoff's duet for banjo and Kazoo,(Duelling Banjos) and their version of "Speed the Plough".. BRILL!!!! the ensemble playing was magic too!!! anyone wanting a brief Mpeg of the ensemble in full cry (as it were) with Sound, PM me..

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: KitKat
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 07:32 AM

Has anyone tried arranging Pachelbel's Canon for kazoo? I think it could work....

Pat

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 07:02 AM

blue clicky!

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 04:40 AM

Annual leave and local computer glitches meant I missed this. It's all been said, but look at this site sometime!
http://hicards.com/bizarre/1-28.shtml
RtS (Buzz buzz)

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Gareth
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 07:07 PM

Defenition of a Lagerphone = A loudmouthed oik, trying to use a poser phone in a crowded pub.

Joshing aside, the Kazoo marching band has a long and honourable tradition here in South Wales - "Thank the Lord we are a musical Nation."

It seems to have been replaced in recent years by 'youths' driving up and down the street wearing back to front baseball caps playing bad music very loudly.

At least the Kazoo bands marched on. BTW have you heard " The Red Flag" and "The Internationale" played on Kazoo - its enough to turn you Tory !!!

I have unfond memorys of working for an insurance company in the 1970's when the other ranks toilets were still supplied with "Izal" I'am quite sure my "Farmer Giles" or "Chalfont's" date from those days !!!

Gareth (still squirming at the memory of Izal.)

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Snuffy
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 06:49 PM

Sharon, I think the crosspieces might be normal in the Australian Lagerphones, but not in British ones - must be the folk process!!

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 01:14 PM

Mrs Duck we have had a tentative offer from a company called Verging I'm sure that's how he spelt it out. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: JudeL
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 01:03 PM

Well having discussed playing a nose flute with a cold - the idea of a windy bottom kazoo takes on a whole new meaning !

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:57 AM

'Windy Bottom Kazoo Ensemble' sounds REALLY unpleasant somehow! *G*

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:46 AM

Snuffy: Sorry 'bout the misinformation... I was looking at the pictures you linked to. Most of those showed a cross-piece of one sort or another attached to the Lagerphone. I assumed from this that a cross-piece was a standard (if you'll pardon the pun) part of the design.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Cobble
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 02:08 PM

Just to say we have just got home from Windy Bottom and what a pleasure to listen to Geoff the Duck in full swing with his Kazoo and Banjo.

Cobble.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 02:03 PM

When are we going to make the CD Keith?

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 01:39 PM

Just to tell you all that the Windy Bottom Kazoo Ensemble was a good experience. Many thanks to the members for such hard work dedication and fortitude. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 05:18 PM

I've never seen crosspieces on British Lagerphones, Sharon. We just fasten the bottle tops straight onto the pole.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 05:17 PM

I've never seen crosspieces on British Lagerphones, Sharon. We just fasten the bottle tops straight onto the pole.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: SharonA
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 04:05 PM

Snuffy (re The Lagerphone): Definitely in the same family of instruments as the Boombah – bang stick on floor and make jingly noises – though the Lagerphone uses beer bottle caps (hence "Lager") mounted on the large crosspiece(s) attached to the stick. The boombahs I've seen have tambourines, cymbals, wood blocks, cowbells and the occasional sleigh-bell mounted directly onto the (vertical) stick... or, if there are crosspieces, they are short and contain only a few small noisemakers. Also, I believe that one strikes the tambourine, cowbell and wood block of the Boombah with a small round-headed mallet, whereas apparently one strikes the pole of the Lagerphone with a long stick (appropriately called a 'whacker').

Either would be an ideal addition to a kazoo band.

The Slinky, on the other hand, makes a soft noise as Steve Parkes mentioned. One would need a Slinky section in a band (the classic metal Slinkys only, not the plastic ones!). I think they would be best used during an instrumental break, shuffled from hand to hand with a subdued accompaniment, much as in a "soft-shoe" performance.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 05:31 AM

Are Slinkies those spring things that climb dowb stairs? If you stretch one out and pluck or stroke it, you get the most fantastic "boyoing" sounds; but very quiet--you have to press one end against you ear. Don't let go the other end! I've seen them sold in cardboard tubes with a resonator on one end (like a Slinky crossed with a kazoo, in fact), and when you turn them end over end or shake them they make these wonderful sounds, a bit like the lasers in Start Wars. Not tunable, though--they'd have to be a rhythm instrument.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: flaj
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 04:23 AM

Keith Put me down for the band as I have a box full of odd instruments in the loft somewhere containing metal and plastic kazoos, 2 nose flutes, 3 ocarinas, several jaws (is "jews" still politically correct?) harps, a triangle, several wood and plastic tambourines, a few flageolets in various keys that I've not played in for years like F, E flat, B flat, various fifes and picolos in wood and plastic and a practice chanter which is so hard to play it burst my eardrum blowing it and trying to get sound to come out. Most of these would probably sound right in your kazoo band, so when's practice night?

By the way, what are "Slinkies" as I've never seen such items for sale in Wilkos where I do most of my shopping?

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 09:06 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:59 PM

Keith - I'll discuss some ideas with you at WB2001. See you tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:16 PM

I seem to recall an old recording of Gerhard Hoffnung with a symphonic piece rendered for toy instruments, including kazoo. If you could find that, it might provide some inspiration. And inspiration always helps when you're playing a kazoo.

It would be interesting to know if anyone is aware of kazoos being mentioned in any folk song. The only one I was able to find in the DT (and here we're using "folk" very liberally) is my own The Perennial Beginner, or the F-Chord Song, which, in the only public performance I know of, ended with a kazoo solo. Keep on buzzing!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Snuffy
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 06:48 PM

Lagerphone thread with links to lagerphone website. That claims it's Australian, but it is also not unknown (see Litotes thread) in Britain.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:16 PM

You mean, besides the fact that the kazoo sound is louder? ;^)

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: selby
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:06 PM

Does anyone know if amplification of Kazoos causes any problems. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:36 AM

Snuffy: I don't know if a boombah is similar to a Lagerphone. What's a Lagerphone?

BTW, I just got off the phone with our local music shop. They have one "handmade" boombah in stock, for $139 plus tax (US dollars), for the serious boombah-ist!

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 09:57 AM

Sorry I was thread creeping just above.

To avoid the Wrath of Offer I have started a separate thread :o)

AWM

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 09:09 AM

erghhhhhhhhhhhhh - wouldn't be very nice for me in my bad cold state....

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 08:54 AM

John B

I just obtained a noseflute in Austria. How do you play it??????????

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 04:30 AM

JudeL... I am in the UK, so my sticky backed plastic, was of course, a subtle reference to Blue Peter... I remember making the wire coathanger, tinsel christmas decorations, and others... ahhhhh hazy days

Ella

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Snuffy
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 06:56 PM

So is a boombah a relative of the Lagerphone?

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: JudeL
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 12:27 PM

No No No NO NO ! I did not say the kazoo was an awful thing but those things that the presenters on Blue Peter were encouraging the kids watching, to make. Things like "a decorative plant holder" or "a desk organiser" or "something for granma to put her knitting neeles in" etc. etc. ... all made from bits of junk and of course the unavoidable sticky back plastic ... without seeing the program it's pretty difficult to describe the toe-curlingly tackiness of these things.

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 12:20 PM

As Celtic Soul pointed out earlier, the crumhorn is the medieval equivalent of the Kazoo. My group, which has just disbanded (pun intended) did a Kazoo and Noseflute chorus in our final rendition of Henry VIII's Pasttime with Goode Compagnie which was our opening number. The audience loved it. The noseflute part is a longer story. JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: SharonA
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 12:17 PM

JudeL: "Awful thing"? A kazoo? Bite your tongue! ;^)

Ella: A boombah is a percussion "instrument" (glorified noisemaker) that consists of a long stick that one holds and bangs on the floor, with tambourine, cymbals and other loud things attached. One can also bang on the skin of the tambourine. I've been trying in vain to find a link to a picture of one (when I did a web search, most of what I came up with were old high-school cheers – "sis boom bah" – and references to Walt Kelly's "Pogo" comic strip!).

Subject: RE: BS: Kazoos
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 12:16 PM

The big problem with a metal Kazoo is that when you have your hands otherwise occupied, e.g.with the banjo, it tends to slip from between the teeth. I found a useful remedy was to wrap a couple of turns of electrical insulating tape around the mouthpiece end. It does not dampen the tone and provides sufficient grip to not worry about which pint the kazoo is most likely to land in.
Quack!
GtD.