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Ocarina History

Round shaped flutes have been made for thousands of years from stone, wood, coconut and clay. Lavishly decorated, and with a beautiful sound, these vessel flutes were used in ancient cultures to charm the birds, please the gods, and lift people into a higher state of consciousness. Such flutes are now known as ocarinas.

The name ocarina, meaning 'little goose', was first given to a musical instrument by Italian teenager, Guiseppe Donati, when he invented a submarine-shaped clay flute in 1853. He showed it to his friends and, together, they perfected an instrument that has been carried to all corners of the world. Also known as a sweet potato flute, an ocarina even features in the popular Zelda Ocarina of Time computer game.

Nowadays, the English ocarina is just as popular as the Italian original. Since John Taylor made his first four-hole pendant ocarina in London, 1963, the intricacies of the English four-hole fingering system have inspired makers around the world. Simple to play, but with delightfully complex musical possibilities, the English Ocarina has also inspired musicians, teachers, parents and children.

Each ocarina has its own story to tell, whether made from porcelain, metal, plastic or clay. David and Christa Liggins have presented these stories in easy-to-read form, illustrated by over 300 colour photographs, in their book, The Ocarina: a Pictorial History. David has also written definitive ocarina entries for the 2001 New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and for Oxford Music Online. The Liggins Ocarina Archive contains thousands of ocarinas, ocarina recordings and publications dating from 3000 years ago to the present day.

Why not listen to some ocarina blasts from the past? Try Sweet Potato Tooters, a CD of 1930s close-harmony ocarina playing featuring The Foursome. These star vocalists added ocarinas to their performances and played along with all the great popular artists of the day including Bing Crosby, George Gershwin and Glenn Miller. Or balance this popular style with a more classical selection. Michael Copley and the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet play a humorous and virtuosic selection of instrumental classics on their CD: The Ocarina is No Trombone.