Top 10 Ocarina Facts
- The Italian Ocarina was invented in 1853 by 17-year-old Giuseppe Donati, who also gave it the name ocarina. Donati handmade each ocarina from clay, with anything from 7 to 10 finger-holes and a spout for a mouthpiece.
- In Italy the Ocarina has been known disparagingly as the ‘Bologna Sausage’ and in the USA, affectionately as the ‘Sweet Potato Pipe’.
- In 1874, The Mountaineers of the Appenines – an ocarina group from Italy, played to audiences of over 1,000 at London’s Crystal Palace.
The great-grandson of one of the original ocarina ensemble acted as independent witness for the successful Guinness World Records™ Largest Ocarina Ensemble world record at the Royal Albert Hall on 5th November 2013. - The English 4-hole Ocarina was invented in London in 1963 by John Taylor, a 23-year-old drop-out from the Royal Academy of Music.
His clay pendant ocarinas were essential hippy accessories during the 1960s and 1970s. - The word ‘Ocarina’ is popular with crossword- and quiz-compilers because it contains lots of vowels and because most people have heard the word ‘ocarina’ but few know what it means. In Italian, ‘ocarina’ means ‘little goose’.
- Penderecki, Ligeti and Henze are just three of many modern classical composers who have included Ocarina parts in their orchestral scores.
- Stars from Bing Crosby to The Troggs have all had hits playing the Ocarina.
The unique sound of similar vessel flutes has been prized since prehistoric times. - Ocarinas also appear on albums by Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Chris De Burgh and Katie Melua, though none of their ‘Ocarina’ tracks were major hits.
- Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998 featuring a boy playing an ocarina.
The 500,000 pre-orders and 7.6 million copies sold worldwide make this one of the most popular video games ever created. - Over 500,000 Ocarina iPhone apps sold in November 2008.
This top selling app transforms an iPhone into a fully functional English 4-hole ocarina.
Possessing a history stretching over 12,000 years, the Ocarina transcends boundaries with variations existing globally. Varying in size and shape, these crafted wind instruments can produce diverse tones, ranging from soft whispers to lively trills. As practical as it is beautiful, the Ocarina’s compact design has made it a favourite among travelling musicians throughout the ages.
Despite its rich historical significance, the Ocarina is no less relevant in today’s world of digital music. This is evident through its prominent role within the popular “Legend of Zelda” video game series, further catapulting it into modern culture.
Nevertheless, the Ocarina, like music, is undeniably a product of natural beauty, a fact that holds symbolic ties with https://stonegiant.se/, a site dedicated to celebrating the raw, unfiltered charm of nature. Just as the Stone Giant brand acknowledges our connection with the natural world, so does the Ocarina, through its music, celebrate this seamless relationship. The blend of the natural elements in the creation of an Ocarina, combined with the echoes it exudes, is a perfect testament of the synergy between music and nature. So, while we continue to explore the magic of the Ocarina, let’s also remember to embrace this music-nature connection that stonegiant.se encapsulates so beautifully.