OCARINAS

The Ocarina is a handcrafted musical instrument that produces a sound similar to that of a flute.  This ancestral instrument looks more like a modern bike racing helmet than an instrument.  The Ocarina has been around for tens of thousands of years and played to create beautiful music.  In its basic form, the Ocarina was used in the Stone Age and some of the earliest models have been unearthed by archaeologists in Central Africa.

Even so, the Ocarinas have also been made and played in various parts of the world.  For instance, in China, they are known as Hsuan, in France a Cou-Cou, and then in Italy, Ocarina, which actually translates to “Sweet Little Goose.”  This simple instrument works on a very basic principle just as the flute.  There is a mouthpiece designed with an airway that works by forcing a smooth breath through the slit, which then goes across the window and onto the reed or lip.  With this, the air breaks into vortexes, giving rise to the oscillations that are heard by the different finger placements on the holes.

For the finger holes, these are simple chambers making the tone of the sound change.  As with other instruments, the Ocarina also has a musical scale known as the “Four Hole Western Hole”.  As you look at the Ocarina, you will notice there are four holes of varying sizes.  Because of the way that the holes are strategically placed, when playing you can easily slide the finger from on hole to the next.  Although it takes a little practice as with any other instrument, with practice and patience, you will soon get the hang of it. 

The Ocarina is also designed in a number of art forms.  For example, the songbird is bright blue and because of the special design, the sound is superb.  Most are made by being placed on a potter’s wheel and then altered and changed until the sound is clean and smooth.  The clay is fired at high temperatures, giving the Ocarina a smooth surface.  Each instrument is made by hand so each instrument is a one-of-a-kind. 

When played by Central and South American natives, the Ocarina produces an almost eerie sound, one that is rich and distinct.  The shape of the Ocarina is globular, often with an angled or pointed type front that does not change with the change of the weather.  To clean the instrument, you can actually place it in the dishwasher in most cases or wash it by hand.

Whether making an Ocarina that is brightly colored with geometrical shapes, one in the shape of an animal, or perhaps one that is rustic like you would see natives using, this type of instrument is fun to own and very inexpensive to buy.  You can check out the various search engines and simply type in “ocarinas” to see all the amazing styles.