Ocarina facts for kids
An ocarina is a kind of flute that is not made out of a tube. Because the ocarina is in a round or box-like shape, its sound is a little different from other flutes.
Contents
History
The ten-hole ocarina was first made by Giuseppe Donati, in Italy, in 1853. Instruments like the ocarina had been made for hundreds of years before that in South America, China, and Africa. In Europe, a form called the gemshorn was made in the 16th century. The gemshorn was made from an animal horn.
In the 19th century, groups of ocarina players, with different sized ocarinas, played classical and folk music. Italian ocarinas became known throughout the world, because of this.
In the United States the ocarina was called the sweet potato, because its shape is like a sweet potato.
In 1928, the Japanese began making ocarinas. They added two small holes to the old kind of ocarinas. Japanese 12-hole ocarinas can play a larger scale than 10-hole ocarinas.
English Ocarina
In the 1960s, the English ocarina was invented. It has four finger holes, and may have one or two thumb holes. English ocarinas are made in many shapes.
Images for kids
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Giuseppe Donati, Italian inventor of the modern ocarina, with his work
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Ocarina, c. 1900, Museu de la Música de Barcelona
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Sindhi borrindos, a form of vessel flute produced in different sizes to give different tones. The borrindo is made out of soft alluvial clay, plentiful in the central Indus Valley.
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A transverse ocarina
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Meissen "Blue Onion" pattern porcelain transverse ocarina, early 20th century
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Metal transverse ocarina of 1875
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English pendant ocarina (unstrung, with two suspension holes) held in the hand.
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An inline ocarina.
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A double-chambered inline ocarina
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A double-chambered English pendant
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A double-chambered transverse ocarina (mouthpiece on the side)
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An Asian double chambered ocarina. The two blow holes in the mouthpiece are clearly visible, which makes it possible for the player to play an extended range of notes (17 in total, in this case from A4 to C6)
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A triple-chambered ocarina in the bass register
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A collection of ocarinas
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Selection of novelty "teacarinas" that are also functional teacups
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Owl-shaped ocarinas on sale in a shop in Taiwan.
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Ocarina made from a bottle
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A ceramic pre-Columbian ocarina, ca. 1300-1500, Tairona people, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia
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An ocarina, as it appears in Ocarina of Time
See also
In Spanish: Ocarina para niños
