Kazoo 142716 225849845 2008-07-15T18:10:39Z 92.233.253.80 /* History */ {{for|the visual effects software, Kazoo|ZOO Digital Group}} {{for|the album by the Portuguese Band Clã, Kazoo|Kazoo (Clã album)}} [[Image:Kazoo-s.jpg|250px|thumb|Two examples of the kazoo]] [[Image:Kazoo.jpg|250px|thumb|A metal kazoo]] The '''kazoo''' is a simple [[musical instrument]] ([[membranophone]]) that adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when one vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of ''[[mirliton]]'' - a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane. ==Playing== While ''humming'' is the term typically used to describe the technique required to play a kazoo, a more accurate term would be ''singing'' into the kazoo. Humming with your lips closed around the mouthpiece of the kazoo will not change the sound - you must vocalize or "sing" in order for the kazoo to make any sound. Many people will struggle with getting any sound from a kazoo when instructed to ''hum''. But when instructed to ''speak'' "do, do, do..." into the kazoo mouthpiece, the 'hard' vocalization makes a more effective sound. ==History== Such instruments have been used in Africa for hundreds of years, to disguise the sound of somebody's voice or to imitate animals, often for various ceremonial purposes. It was on such an instrument that the kazoo, invented by an [[African American|African American]] named [[Alabama Vest]] in the 19th century in [[Macon, Georgia]], is based. The first kazoo was manufactured to Vest's specifications by [[Thaddeus von Clegg]], a German [[clockmaker]] in Macon. The kazoo was first publicized at the [http://www.georgiastatefair.org Georgia State Fair] in 1852. The first metal kazoos were manufactured and patented in [[Eden, New York]], where they are still made in the original factory. ==Professional usage== The kazoo is played professionally in [[jug band]]s and [[comedy]] music, and by amateurs everywhere. It is one of the few acoustic instruments to be developed in the [[United States]] and one of the easiest melodic instruments to play well, requiring only the ability to vocalize in tune. In [[North East England]] and [[South Wales]], kazoos play an important role in so-called [[jazz band]]s (really children's marching bands). [[Image:NYA rhythm band Illinois.gif|thumb|left|350px|National Youth Administration: "rhythm band" plays in Sandwich, Illinois 1936.]] In the [[Original Dixieland Jass Band]] [[1921]] recording of "Crazy Blues", what the casual listener might mistake for a trombone solo is actually a kazoo solo by drummer [[Tony Sbarbaro]]. The [[Mound City Blue Blowers]] had a number of hit kazoo records in the early 1920s. The Mound City Blue Blowers featured [[Dick Slevin]] on metal kazoo and [[Red McKenzie]] on comb-and-tissue-paper kazoo. The '''vocaphone''', a kind of kazoo with a trombone-like tone, was occasionally featured in [[Paul Whiteman]]'s Orchestra. Trombonist-vocalist [[Jack Fulton]] played it on Whiteman's recording of "Vilia" (1931) and [[Frankie Trumbauer]]'s "Medley of [[Isham Jones]] Dance Hits" (1932). The vocal group [[The Mills Brothers]] originally started in vaudeville as a kazoo quartet, playing four-part harmony on kazoo with one brother accompanying them on guitar. The kazoo is not often found in [[European classical music]], a rare exception being [[David Bedford]]'s ''With 100 Kazoos'', a piece which emphasizes the simplicity of the instrument - rather than being played by trained musicians, kazoos are handed out to members of the audience, who accompany a professional instrumental ensemble. The kazoo is called for in [[Frank Loesser]]'s score for ''[[How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying]]''. It is used to melodically mimic the sound of electric razors used by several of the businessmen in the song "I Believe in You". The kazoo was used in the 1990 [[Koch International]] and 2007 [[Naxos Records]] recordings of American classical composer [[Charles Ives]]' "Yale-Princeton Football Game", where the kazoo chorus represents the football crowd's cheering. The brief passages have the kazoo chorus sliding up and down the scale as the cheering rises and falls. One of the best known kazooists in recent times might be Barbara Stewart. She was a classically trained singer who has written a book on the kazoo[http://www.amazon.com/dp/089480605X], formed the "quartet" Kazoophony, and performed at [[Carnegie Hall]]. She recently appeared on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''. Short performances of kazoo music is included on many modern recordings, usually for comic effect. ==Records== On [[December 31]], [[2006]] at 11:40 p.m. the [[Guinness world record]] for the world's largest kazoo ensemble was broken with a new record of 2,679 participants in [[Rochester, New York]] on the Main Street Bridge.[http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070101/NEWS01/701010339] On Thursday, September 27, 2007, [[Macon, Georgia]] went for the world record for the world's largest kazoo emsemble but sadly wasn't achieved when there were only 2,007 people attending the event. On Saturday, November 17, 2007, spectators at the [[Bob Jones University]] Turkey Bowl broke the [[Guinness world record]] for the world's largest kazoo ensemble with an unofficial 3,800,[http://www.bju.edu/collegian/index.php?issue=84&article=838] members, all buzzing to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for over five minutes. On April 3, 2008, the live tour of the Radio 4 show [[I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue]] attempted to break the record with 3550 people in attendance at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3822583.ece]. Confirmation from Guiness World Records is pending. On July 2nd, 2008, an Evangelical Free Church of America Youth Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah broke the old Guinness World Record of '''3,800''' people with '''5,300''' buzzing to the song of Amazing Grace for 5 minutes. ==References== * Lombardi, Fabio, 2000, ''Canti e strumenti popolari della Romagna Bidentina'', Società Editrice "Il Ponte Vecchio", Cesena * Guizzi, Febo, 2002, ''Gli strumenti della musica popolare in Italia''. Invaluable survey of popular instruments in use in Italy, ranging from percussion,wind and plucked instruments to various noise makers. Numerous drawings and plates. Wrappers. - Lucca : Alia Musica, 8. - 502 p. ISBN 88-7096-325-x * Lombardi, Fabio, 1989, ''Mostra di strumenti musicali popolari romagnoli : Meldola Teatro Comunale G. A. Dragoni, 26-29 agosto 1989; raccolti da Fabio Lombardi nella vallata del bidente, Comuni di: Bagno di Romagna, S. Sofia, Meldola, Galeata, Forli, Civitella diR. e Forlimpopoli ; presentazione [[Roberto Leydi]]''. - Forli : Provincia di Forli, 1989. - 56 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. In testa al front.: Provincia di Forli, Comune di Meldola. * McGlynn, Don, 1986, ''The Mills Brothers Story, VHS, Kultur Videos. ==External links== * [http://www.edenkazoo.com/museum.php Kazooco], kazoo museum and historic manufacturer * [http://www.edenny.org/kazoo.html Eden, NY], home of Kazooco * [http://www.captainkazoo.com/kazois.html "This is a kazoo!"] Captain Kazoo: The world's largest private kazoo collection. More history, including details on the mirliton. * [http://www.kazoos.com/popkazoo.htm List of pop kazoo performances] including [[Eric Clapton]], [[The Kinks]], and [[Pink Floyd]]. * [http://www.kazoos.com/webkazoo.htm Kazoo Links] Kazoo information and links [[Category:Membranophones]] [[Category:Continuous pitch instruments]] [[Category:Folk musical instruments]] [[bg:Казу]] [[de:Kazoo]] [[es:Mirlitón]] [[eu:Mirlitoi]] [[fr:Kazoo]] [[id:Kazoo]] [[is:Kazoo]] [[it:Kazoo]] [[he:קאזו]] [[lb:Mirliton]] [[nl:Kazoo]] [[ja:カズー]] [[pl:Mirliton]] [[fi:Kazoo]] [[sv:Kazoo]]