Xaphoon

Xaphoon from Maui

The Xaphoon is a single-reed keyless woodwind instrument. Its construction is very similar to the chalumeau, a European keyless single-reed instrument that was the ancestor of the clarinet. The tone color produced by a Xaphoon is somewhere between that of a saxophone and a clarinet, and the instrument overblows in 12ths, like a clarinet.  The Xaphoon was invented by Brian Wittman in the 1970s; Wittman still makes bamboo instruments by hand in his home on the island of Maui, Hawaii, using local bamboo cut from the forests of the eastern end of the island.

Use and availability

The Xaphoon is available in the keys of C, B♭, and D (as well as any other key via special order) and uses a regular tenor saxophone reed. Its body is 12.5 inches long (for the instrument pitched in C) and has nine holes (eight holes in front, and one hole in back, for the left thumb) that resemble those of a recorder.^[1] The Xaphoon's fingerings, however, are significantly different from those of either a saxophone or recorder.  It has a range of two octaves and is fully chromatic.

In the spring of 2000, a molded ABS version of the Xaphoon was introduced, which is marketed under the trade name Xaphoon Pocket Sax.^[2] Currently, it is available in the key of C, with its lowest tone being middle C.  Its durability, rich tone, low price, and portability made it a suitable alternative to the harmonica or tin whistle for travelers who wish to bring an instrument with them in their pocket or daypack.

In addition to the chalumeau. the instrument also has a striking resemblance to instruments native to China. These include the Heping Flute 和平笛 and the Ebi (from Yunnan), both of which use the design of putting a single reed on a Dongxiao, a vertical flute. Other variations of the Xaphoon included Bamboo/Pocket/Mini saxes that include an actual saxophone mouthpiece (sometimes connected at a curve.) The instruments that use a saxophone mouthpiece tend to sound more like a saxophone, whereas the ones that have the mouthpiece cut out of the bamboo tube sound closer to a clarinet.

See also

• Chalumeau

References

1. ^ Xaphoon Pocket Sax Review from Saxtastic Saxophone
2. ^ Instruments of the world: the Xaphoon from Music Aloud

External links

• Xaphoon official site
• Improvisation on Xaphoon

Listening

• Video of all the xaphoon sounds (flute, sax, bruitism)
• xaphoon sound panorama
• xaphoon sound
• Xaphoon Sound Example: Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
• Video – Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen