Basse Aux Pieds
- This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 3 months ago by
Quetscher.
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- March 18, 2017 at 6:48 pm #8544
Alan Brinton
ParticipantAnyone 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.
March 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm #8550Alan Brinton
ParticipantOops, 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.
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.
March 18, 2017 at 7:20 pm #8552Alan Brinton
ParticipantMarch 18, 2017 at 7:24 pm #8553Alan Brinton
ParticipantAha! Here’s the video from the MIM display.
March 19, 2017 at 1:31 pm #8716Paul Durham
ParticipantReminds me of the bass pedals of a reed organ. I wonder if this was a supplement to a hands only instrument?
March 19, 2017 at 3:15 pm #8717Lowboy
ParticipantI 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
March 19, 2017 at 7:23 pm #8718Alan Brinton
ParticipantI think the original idea was to use it while playing a regular accordion.
March 21, 2017 at 10:08 am #8731Quetscher
ParticipantIndeed 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…
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