question for DU musicians, especially percussionists. Please identify this instrument....

[pepperbear]

I have been racking my brains trying to remember the name of this instrument. All I can do is describe how it looks and sounds, so it's hard to key just the right words for a Google search. If anyone can help me identify the instrument by name, I would greatly appreciate it.

It's a little like a table top chime tree, metallic, except it's shaped like an absract modern sculpture. I believe it is meant to vibrate when struck lightly or shaken, but I vaguely remember that it might work like a glass harmonica. I am not sure.

It's sound is unique. It sounds like metal wind pipes being played at a slower speed. It is very dissonant, and very drawn out. For baby boomer DUer's, it was used as a sound effect ALOT in 1970s TV mystery and horror shows, usually when the unknowing victim walked home alone. I saw it used once in a live percussion ensemble performance, but I haven't seen one since.

Thanks to all who can help!

:hi:

[Trajan]

1. Isn't it a Glockenspiel ???

Hmmmm .... It is like a bell tree, like a Lyre with Metal Bars .... right ?

[Warpy]

2. I remember some early theremens were like that

They were very sculptural in nature and produced sounds when hands were waved near them at various speeds.

[greyl]

3. Flexatone? nt

[pepperbear]

9. the flexatone is the closest to what I am looking for, but not quite. n/t

[murielm99]

4. I don't know, but

could you Google percussion instruments, or something similar, and look at the images? It might be there.

[grasswire]

5. theramine? (eom)

[Jamastiene]

8. That's what I thought too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin

[grasswire]

6. I don't think we're on the right track so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UekIvDeQPG4&NR=1

[NCDem60]

7. It sounds like it might be a

crystallophone.

Photo here: http://www.rssfeeds.scriptsnews.com/index.php?name=Music_Sound&page=Crystallophone.html

[pepperbear]

10. For those of you who are interested, I found it......

It's called a waterphone.


http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om33000.html

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. Very cool instrument....nt