The alphorn (or alpenhorn) is a natural wooden aerophone traditionally used by the mountain folk in Switzerland (Alps), and elsewhere. These lengthy horns were used to communicate in mountainous regions and across vast distances as well as announce daily activities in the village. Herdsmen used these horns to communicate to each other during [...]

Before the advent of radar and hearing aids, hearing “trumpets” and the like were used to amplify distant sounds. Acoustic radars were invented during war time to locate ships in the fog and approaching airplanes. These listening devices not only enabled the listener to hear subtle, distant sounds, but also allowed for great [...]

These ingenious illustrations are from the book De Naturae Simia written by the very controversial physicist, astrologer, philosopher, and mystic Robert Fludd (1574-1637) who was first to discuss the concept of blood circulation. Maybe this is why so many of his instruments seem to involve hydraulics.

A bin zasara (a.k.a. bin sasara, sasara) is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument. Due to the bin zasara’s self-vibrating nature, the instrument is classified as an idiophone. The instrument consists of many rectangular wooden slats, made from tonewood (wood that carries sound waves well e.g. maple, ceder, bamboo, walnut) strung together by some [...]

The hurdy gurdy, also known as the “wheel fiddle,” is similar to the nyckelharpa in that it’s notes are summoned using a keyboard which controls tangents (wood wedges) that depress the strings at defined intervals. What is most interesting about this violin-type instrument is that the strings are vibrated by a resin wheel mechanism [...]

If there was such a thing as a portable grand piano, this would be it’s compliment:

From the October 1937 issue of Popular Science:
“Six persons can play simultaneously on a gigantic accordion exhibited [around 1937] in Germany. Over six feet high, the mammoth musical instrument has a keyboard covering more than ten octaves. Casters [...]