432 



REPORT OV NATIONAL MrSP:rM, ISKK). 



Fig. 6. 



OLOBULAR WHISTLES. 



After Frobenius. 



step scale, like most of the theoretical Chinese scales. The aj^reement 

 between the mathematical theoiy and observation is strikingly close. 



4. All the cases thus far referred to have been of prehistoric or very- 

 ancient instruments. But some curious little instruments of this type 

 are fitjured b}^ Frobenius^ (fig. 6) as "a splendid parallel between the 

 cultures'- of some West African tribes and the natives of New Pom 



erania. These are little whistles made out ot 

 gourds (a, b, d) or potte rj' (c) . They have the 

 mouth-hole and two, three, or four finger- 

 holes. No dimensions are given. Kraus, of 

 Florence, figures and describes' a similar 

 instrument from Melanesia made of a gourd 

 6 cm. in diameter, having three finger-holes 

 close to the mouth-hole (fig. T). The scale is 

 stated to be A, B, C#, E, F, but no further 

 measures are given. HowcA^er, this series is 

 easily obtained by assuming the diameter of 

 the mouth-hole to be 1.0, of one hole 0.3, and 

 of the others 0.6; apparently D# is omitted. 

 In the Finsch Collection in the American Museum of Natural History, 

 in New York City, there are several similar g'ourds of different sizes 

 having three finger-holes. They are labeled "Blasekugeln," "used 

 by women." 



5. In Europe there have been many instruments depending on the 

 same general principle of resonance in a nearly closed cavit}" (in dis- 

 tinction from the open or closed organ-pipe principle), 



but not conforming to the simple law already set 

 forth. Prsetorius^ in his famous book of 1618 gives 

 figures and descriptions of several such instruments, 

 along with the recorders, flutes, violins, etc., that one 

 reads of more frequently; for instance, he says the 

 fagotti are sometimes closed at the extreme end, but 

 have a side hole; the Cornamuse has the end closed and 

 holes in the side. Besides these he describes various in- 

 struments having stopped bodies on reeds — the rankett, 

 bear pipes, etc. , and similar forms on the organ. These things have all 

 gone out of use along with the other delicate and weak-toned instru- 

 ments of their times. To-day musicians demand tones more powerful 

 and richer in harmonics than instruments of this type can give. But 

 a curious survival or revival of this earlier type occurred in the middle 

 of tills century, which is told of in Groves's Dictionary of Music. A 

 blind peasant, named Picco, gave public performances in London on a 



' Der Urspruug der Afrikanischen Kulturen, 1898, p. 150. 

 ^ Archivio per L'Antropologia e la Etnologia, XVII, 1887, pp. 35-41, fig. 5. 

 Syntagma Musicuin II, pp. 41, 48, 85. 



Fig. 7. 



GLOBUI,.\R WHISTLE. 

 After Krans. 



