Abstract Instruments, the exceptionally wierd or unusual.

I just had an idea that people could suggest not-so-common instruments to composers on here. Obviously, there are methods of noise-making that only few people perceive as capable of any musical value, so this is not a place to argue that such 'instruments' are not capable of music. How many here have used or considered using 'abstract' instruments?

A few examples (most links are YouTube):
Musical saw is arguably abstract. Originally not meant to make music, but a good many people have discovered that it has very expressive capabilities.

The straw. Here's one for you. Along the lines of the jug or blown-bottle, a straw is capable of producing tuned pitches. Two methods: fluted, and reeded. Like a flute, it can be inserted into a glass of water and played by blowing across the opening. The length of straw above the water level determines the pitch. Played like an oboe, a flattened end of the straw is cut in a triangular shape with a sharp point in the center. This is manipulated like an oboe reed. More than one straw can be fit together and can slide as a unit (like a trombone slide), reaching nearly an octave in pitch. Played like a flute, it can be moderately melodious, played like a reed, it is better as a rythmic instrument, although tone holes can be cut, allowing for more notes.

Hand whistling and manualism. Hand whistling is the formation of the hands into a natural ocarina. It is very expressive and capable of well over an octave. Manualism is also known as hand farting, but is capable of fairly well controlled pitch ranging well over an octave.
See a demonstration of hand whistling -> Wayfaring Stranger, and Schubert - Ave Maria
See a demonstration of manualism -> Classical Gas, and Amoroso by Thomas Arne, also Compilation of Various Tunes - The Four Squeezins'

The ruler. Place a 12-inch ruler on the edge of a flat surface so that at least three inches is protuding off the edge and you are holding it tight against the surface. Pluck the protuding end of the ruler. Voila, controllable pitch!

Bicycle tire pump. Not sure how this one works, but apparently it is very playable. See a demonstration ->Sweet Georgia Brown

Garden hose. VERY playable. Equivalent to a natural horn/trumpet.
See a demonstration -> Leopold Mozart - Huntsymphonie, hose horn quartet (Malmö Symphony Orchestra)

Also, you can hybridize some instruments. Taking a mouthpiece for a Bb soprano clarinet and pressing against a (French) horn (with it's mouthpiece inserted, of course), you can create some interesting sounds, fairly controllable. Several overtones at your disposal, the lower ones sounding like a muted contrabass clarinet. You can also play many woodwind instruments with brass mouthpieces inserted in the end.

The handwhistling I'm quite fond of, as I'm actually quite good at it myself, having a range from Bb4 to about F#6. I would be extremely thrilled if someone wrote a piece with solo hands. I have also done the hose horn thing, and am quite capable at it, being a real horn player myself. The straw and ruler I have discovered myself before finding that other people have been doing it before me. With practice, cool things can be produced from anything, I'm convinced. If anybody has any others, please post, if anyone, I'd be interested.

The "musical" saw:
Natalia Paruz - Musical Saw and Bells
Hehe.

Also check out the flexotone.

I like the contrabass flute and the octobass.

I have considered composing a symphony for unusual instruments.

A soundclip of myself playing a straw I made, with 2 octave+ range

New woodwind Instument

Hehe, clarinetcola has 42 posts...

I never could get the second octave, is that by way of speaker hole?

Anyways, why don't we touch on some more normal instruments?

So people, if you haven't heard of the double-belled euphonium, Wagner tuba, or alto horn, I suggest you go learn about them, they are severely lacking in written repertoire. I just found a Conn 16E Mellophonium among my school's ancient instruments, and I might well bring it home, learn it, and write something for it. I've tried it, and it plays nicely, very unique sound. Sometimes finding out about new instruments can inspire you, so I suggest you go look around, there is much to be found.

I have been considering writing a fugue for 3 or 4 people whistling. i havent come up with a good subject yet, though. maybe ill steal one from somewhere.

Originally Posted by furanku-kun

I have been considering writing a fugue for 3 or 4 people whistling. i havent come up with a good subject yet, though. maybe ill steal one from somewhere.

That would be cool!

I use a lot of homemade percussion...you can hit anything with a stick...jugs, bicycle rims, the neighbor's cat, the neighbor...and they'll all make some sort of sound!

In that vein, rwgriffith, I've actually seen a Garden Weasel used in a peace. It's in "At The Dawn of War".

Originally Posted by EnigmusJ4

... I just found a Conn 16E Mellophonium among my school's ancient instruments, and I might well bring it home, learn it, and write something for it. I've tried it, and it plays nicely, very unique sound. Sometimes finding out about new instruments can inspire you, so I suggest you go look around, there is much to be found.

What's a mellophonium? Is it some sort of bastard child of a mellophone and euphonium?
PDQ Bach instruments are interesting... I've always wanted to try playing a tromboon.

I think my favourite bizarre instrument is without a doubt the Siberian Cello-Horn. It's got the body resembling that of a cello, only with a hollowed-out neck and a double-reeded mouthpiece that one can play like a bassoon's.

And then it's got a few holes to be played with the thumbs on said neck to produce various droning tones while the rest of the instrument is played exactly like a cello would be. Only I think it's tuned differently and has one extra string.

Either way, the double used of the resonating chamber and the combination of sounds makes for an entirely eclectic and wonderful sound.