Membranophonists Then And Now

Subject: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: GUEST,Mr. Mirliton
Date: 23 May 17 - 05:33 PM

Who are some of the great folk musicians known for their use of instruments of the membranophone family, namely, the kazoo, mirliton, etc?

Gus Cannon, of course.

Innumerable jug-band players over the last 150 years or so.

Even ol' Clapton had to break one out when he played "San Francisco Bay Blues" in tribute to Jesse "Lone Cat" Fuller.

Who else?

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 May 17 - 06:56 PM

Do dizis count?

If so, I've heard Cathal McConnell playing one. I've got a few but haven't had the patience to get very far with them.

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Sooz
Date: 24 May 17 - 07:51 AM

I'd like to nominate myself. Not great but very enthusiastic!

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Roz
Date: 24 May 17 - 02:54 PM

Playing around today, check out the Crow Quill Night Owls. They've got the kazoo going on.

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 24 May 17 - 03:37 PM

Bob Gibson, near the end of his life, used to do concerts for elementary school children. I saw a sound-bite of one such on a newscast on television. At the end, everybody got a kazoo.

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 May 17 - 04:39 AM

Eunuch Flute
aka mirliton or oinion flute

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 25 May 17 - 06:15 AM

A band I used to be in had access to a couple of Eunuch Flutes - rather nice ones, looking a bit like this.

Used for effect on just one number - "Hopping Down In Kent". A twin Eunuch Flute extravaganza!

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 May 17 - 01:06 PM

Modesty forbids...
RtS

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Helen
Date: 25 May 17 - 03:38 PM

A small detour: Yesterday I Googled for choko aka chayote recipes because suddenly our choko vine has gone into overdrive. I just did a search for mirliton - because I have never heard of this instrument - and there is an image of chayotes in the top right corner of the search page. No, that was SO yesterday! But I'm wrong. Mirliton apparently is another name for chayote.

I wonder whether playing the gumleaf could be included in the membranophonist category.

Herb Patten Blues playing When the Saints Go Marching In

Or a Chinese leaf flute player who provides his own harmony on Whispering Hope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6dTeQwf488

Helen

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Helen
Date: 25 May 17 - 03:42 PM

Oops. I was so excited to hear one of my favourite old songs that I forgot to make the blicky:

Chinese leaf flute player

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Helen
Date: 27 May 17 - 03:02 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Membranophonists Then And Now
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 May 17 - 04:08 AM

I have a cutting pasted to my washboard of Leonard Cohen playing the kazoo. Many blues players: Jess the Lone Cat Fuller, Gus Cannon, etc,in folk the Spinners...the list goes on. At a recent recording of UK radio comedy quiz "I'm sorry I haven't a clue" the whole audience was given one to join in at the end. i had brought my own, of course.

RtS