Xaphoon
Encyclopedia
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.
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
. 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. 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.
Single-reed instrument
A single-reed instrument is a woodwind instrument that uses only one reed to produce sound. Examples include clarinets, saxophones, and some bagpipes. In a single-reed instrument, the reed is attached to a mouthpiece that is blown into to vibrate the reed, producing the sound...
keyless woodwind instrument
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
. Its construction is very similar to the chalumeau
Chalumeau
This article is about the historical musical instrument. For the register on the clarinet that is named for this instrument, see Clarinet#Range....
, a European keyless single-reed instrument that was the ancestor of the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
. The tone color produced by a Xaphoon is somewhere between that of a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
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
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
instruments by hand in his home on the island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, 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 saxophoneTenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
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
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
. 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. 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
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
or tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
for travelers who wish to bring an instrument with them in their pocket or daypack.
In addition to the chalumeau
Chalumeau
This article is about the historical musical instrument. For the register on the clarinet that is named for this instrument, see Clarinet#Range....
. 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
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
), 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.