Ocarinas. Do you recommend them?

neoclown · Post by **neoclown** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:58 am

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking of getting a regular and mountain ocarina. Does anyone here play the instrument? Do you enjoy it? Do you recommend it?

Do you have to hold your mouth in anyway similar to a side flute or just blow into the thing?

Thanks!
neoclown

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:49 am

WALDEN!

Post by **Dale** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:17 am

Where's Walden?

neoclown · Post by **neoclown** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:42 am

Uh... Walden... apparently your friends are asking for you to answer my questions, lol.

Tim2723 · Post by **Tim2723** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:57 am

Hi! I'm not Walden, but I can tell you what I know anyway!

Ocarinas are blown straight through, like a whistle or recorder, not side-blown like a flute (although there are techniques where you blow across the mouthpiece, but that's different).

They come in a variety of sizes and keys, as well as a range of constructions from the child's Tonette to whimsical clay creations in animal shapes to high end wonders made of advanced polymers to tradtional 'sweet potato' versions as big as a football, with anywhere from four to ten holes. There even double ocarinas that play harmony to themselves.

The Mountain ocarinas are high-tech versions and play well in tune and have nice, clear voices.

They are a fun instrument, and no harder to learn than the whistle. As they are pretty inexpensive, don't be surprised if you end up with a whole collection of them!

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:14 am

Ocarina Land

neoclown · Post by **neoclown** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:22 pm

Thanks Denny... but I didn't really find that site helpful, at least not yet.

Thanks though.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:53 pm

yeah...but it is Walden's

you could post a question there or just PM him Walden

neoclown · Post by **neoclown** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:40 pm

Thanks. It will come in more handy once I have them in my hands and try them out. Thanks!

weedie · Post by **weedie** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:46 pm

I've bought a few recently on E-Bay and the're great fun...
I promised myself that I'd stop when I got to ten...and I have !!
Old clay ones are nice..There was a maker in Austria called H.Fiehn and his instruments,made around the turn of last century,are my favourites..
The come in different sizes/keys and are pretty inexpensive...mine cost on average about $15 to $25 ....there are some pics of Fiehn Ocarinas on the web site... www.ocarina.de

Get one..or ten.......great fun !!!

weedie · Post by **weedie** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:14 pm

Theres one on Ebay now..only 3 hours to go though...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SIGNED-H-FIEHN-O ... dZViewItem

Yuri · Post by **Yuri** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:05 am

Well, I hate to be self-promoting, but still... Have a look at my website.
I make them with 4 fingerholes to the octave, with another 2 thumbholes for 2 extra notes, but te top 4 will give you some semitones, cross-fingered, too. They are also tunable, that is the pitch is tunable, unlike most other makes.
Moderators, I apologise, it's just too good an occasion to miss.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:04 pm

The Ocarina Land site seems to be down, except for the forum. I will put it online at a better server when I get time.

Tim2723 wrote:Hi! I'm not Walden, but I can tell you what I know anyway!

Ocarinas are blown straight through, like a whistle or recorder, not side-blown like a flute (although there are techniques where you blow across the mouthpiece, but that's different).

You are right, though there are sideblown instruments of the ocarina-type,
in east Asia. These were an ancient instrument, and look somewhat like an
egg, and have undergone a revival in modern times.

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:14 pm

I believe you are thinking of a Xun.

neoclown · Post by **neoclown** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:53 pm

Thanks guys... I have three on there way to me!

One Mountain ocarina, one normal (both made by Susato), and one H. Fiehn ocarina from the 19th century.

excited.