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Musiklexikon: Was bedeutet Maultrommel?

Rubrik: Dictionary Music 1879-1890 / Maultrommel | Autor:

Jew's Harp (1880)

JEW'S HARP, possibly a corruption of Jaw's harp. In French it is called Guimbarde, and in German Maul-trommel [sic], Mund-harmonika, or Brummeisen (i.e. buzzing-iron). In the Highlands, where it is much used, it is called Tromp.

This simple instrument consists of an elastic steel tongue, rivetted at one end to a frame of brass or iron, similar in form to certain pocket corkscrews [Korkenzieher], of which the screw turns up on a hinge. The free end of the tongue is bent outwards, at a right angle, so as to allow the finger to strike it when the instrument is placed to the mouth, and firmly supported by the pressure of the frame against the teeth.

A column of air may vibrate by reciprocation with a body whose vibrations are isochronous with its own, or when the number of its vibrations are any multiple of those of the original sounding body. On this law depends the explanation of the production of sounds by the jew's harp. The vibration of the tongue itself corresponds with a very low sound; but the cavity of the mouth is capable of various alterations; and when the number of vibrations of the contained volume of air is any multiple of the original vibrations of the tongue, a sound is produced corresponding to the modification of the oral cavity. Thus, if the primitive sound of the tongue is C, the series of reciprocated sounds would be C, E, G, B♭, C, D, E, F, G, etc., and by using two or more instruments in different keys, a complete scale may by obtained, and extremely original and beautiful effects produced.

Maultrommel (Jew's Harp) 1828

Maultrommel (Jew's Harp), wie sie Wheatstone 1828 für akustische Versuche benutzt hat. Abb. aus The Quarterly Journal of Science 1828.

The elucidation of this subject is due to the ingenious researches of Professor Wheatstone, which may be found in the 'Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and Art,' for the year 1828, 1st part,[1] of which the above is a condensed account.

A soldier of Frederick the Great of Prussia, so charmed the king by his performance on two jew's harps that he gave him his discharge, together with a present of money, and he subsequently amassed a fortune by playing at concerts.

In 1827 and 1828 Charles Eulenstein appeared in London […] and by using 16 jew's harps produced extraordinary effects. [Victor de Pontigny, in: Grove Dictionary 1880, 34]

1 Charles Wheatstone: On the Resonances, or Reciprocated Vibrations of Columns of Air, in: The Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and Art, January to June, London 1828, S. 175-182.

Rubrik: Maultrommel / Musik-Lexikon 1882 | Autor:

Maultrommel (1882)

Maultrommel (Brummeisen, Crembalum), altes primitives Instrument, bestehend aus einer durch die Finger in Bewegung gesetzten Stahlfederzunge, die in ein hufeisenförmiges kleines Stück Eisen eingeklemmt ist, das mit den Zähnen gehalten wird. Die so mit fast geschlossenem Mund auf das Instrument gebrummten Gesangstöne haben ein eigentümliches melancholisches Kolorit. Man trifft die Maultrommel noch hier und da bei Bärenführern etc. [Riemann Musik-Lexikon 1882, 561f]

Rubrik: Maultrommel / Musikalisches Lexikon 1802 | Autor:

Maultrommel (1802)

Maultrommel, oder Brummeisen. Ein bekanntes kleines Instrument, welches aus Eisen oder Stahl verfertigt und mit einer schwachen Feder, die Zunge genannt, versehen ist. Es wird zwischen die Zähne genommen, und sodann wird mit der Hand die Zunge bewegt, dass sie Schwingungen macht, und dem Tone, der gleichsam mit den Stimmwerkzeugen durch den Hauch auf die Zunge gebracht werden muss, eine besondere Modifikation gibt. [Koch Musikalisches Lexikon 1802, 934f]