[Alan Brinton]

Anyone familiar with this instrument? I spent several hours at the amazing Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Phoenix a few days ago. This museum is well worth a visit by any serious melodica player, especially to see and hear hundreds of wind instruments from different cultures and to see and hear the techniques employed by folk musicians on these instruments. Unfortunately, the displays are not available on line. I was really sorry I hadn’t brought my camera to take photos, as there were several particular reed instruments that were especially suggestive in relation to melodica playing. But the most fascinating instrument was in the Belgium exhibit in the Geographical collections, the foot bass or Basse aux Pieds.

[Alan Brinton]

Oops, follow-up did not post. It’s a vintage instrument, made until about 1945. But there is an artisan named Harry Geuns who has made and sold reproductions in recent years.

Harry Geuns – Free Reed Maker Bandoneon maker

Follow the links there for sound samples and more information. The cost there is given at about 2000 Euros, a very reasonable price, it seems to me, for such a unique hand-crafted instrument.

[Alan Brinton]

[Alan Brinton]

Aha! Here’s the video from the MIM display.

[Paul Durham]

Reminds me of the bass pedals of a reed organ. I wonder if this was a supplement to a hands only instrument?

[Lowboy]

I love it. I only which I could play two instruments at once, or play and sing. My mind just won’t let me do it. If I could, I would play one of these. Lowboy

[Alan Brinton]

I think the original idea was to use it while playing a regular accordion.

[Quetscher]

Indeed an interesting intrument; I’ve been doing theatre music several times playing accordion, bass drum, hihat, piano, kazoo at the same time. I wish I had had that instrument the last time I did that, would’ve been fantastic…

[Author]

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