Historical Significance of the Ocarina

On this page you will find sound files and video that illustrate the significance of Ocarinas in history and in education and a Poster prepared for ISME (International Society of Music Educators) in Glasgow 2016.

The Ocarina is a very ancient instrument – you can find a little more of the Ocarina’s vast history here and listen to some two thousand year old ‘Vessel Flutes’ being played.

Look at the poster below and listen to these short sound extracts of Ocarina playing from the past…

1 Marches Des Joyeux Fetards – arranged as played at the Crystal Palace (1874)

2 Carnival of Venice, 3rd of 5 variations by Mose Tapiero  (1910)

3 Carnival of Venice, 4th of 5 variations by Mose Tapiero (1910)

4 Whispering – Roy Fox and his BBC Radio Orchestra, Ocarina solo Harry Berly (1931)

5 The Good the Bad and the Ugly by Ennio Morricone (1966)

6 Wild Thing by The Troggs, Ocarina solo by Reg Presley (1966)

7 Beethoven Symphony No. 1 Finale, by Michael Copley and Friends (1991)

 

Here are some video archive extracts of Ocarina playing…

Daisy Daisy – five part harmony extract
Masquerade Ocarinas (2005)

Ode to a Joyful New Star
Guinness World Record extract (2013)

Theme from 'The Great Yellow River'
by Sojiro, (1986)

The players in the first two of these video extracts are all between six and twelve years of age. They show what can be achieved with the English Ocarina, in small and large ensembles of between 14 and 3,081 players!

Sojiro shows the quality of sound and musical expression that can be reached by a soloist playing the beautifully simple Ocarina.

For evidence of how Ocarinas are being played in the classroom, browse through any of the following. Enjoy your viewing!

Ocarina Classics  |  Ocarina Progression  |  Video Gallery

Historical Significance of the Ocarina