The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #121148 Message #2642387
Posted By: JohnInKansas
27-May-09 - 10:09 PM
Thread Name: Czech subcontrabass U-bend
Subject: RE: Czech subcontrabass U-bend
It's difficult to get a clear view in the brief pans to the "bass" instrument, but it appears that the "player" is just mouthing "gutterals" with the "instrument" as a simple "echo chamber" close in front of his mouth.
The low pitched gutterals can be made by some people by "belching" notes from low in the esophagus, so that "things other than the vocal chords vibrate." The echo chamber held in front smooths out the "belch" and makes it more "musical?." The second "cut" to this player shows fairly clearly (as I see it) that there is no mouth-to-instrument connection, so the sound must be coming from the player (since it doesn't appear to be a squeeze box).
A somewhat similar effect has been reportedly practiced by some (unknown, undefined) South Sea islanders using large conch shells, although it's been decades since I've seen a demonstration (probably on one of the 50s TV shows).
As noted, the views are restricted so it's not completely clear what's going on - but that's my best guess. If it is as it appears, any large enough piece of plumbing with only one opening held near the mouth would suffice, although the size could be selected if, as it sounds, the player is getting overtones (harmonics) of the "resonator" that are more or less in tune with the melody.
John