2:52 The Cittern is only nominally a cittern, being more accurately an English Guittar, which was a development of the waldzither. In this case, it' s an exceptionally nice example with a built in piano attachment so the strings can be struck using the keyboard seen next to the bridge.
Re virginals. Unlike in other keyboard instruments, in the virginal the strings are plucked in the middle of their length. This results in a strong fundamental and an emphasis on the odd numbered overtones. This gives it a “pure” or “virginal” sound. This also explains why the strings run perpendicular to the keyboard.
that is not true. By definition virginals are plucked at the end. however ..... in the netherlands an instrument was in use which is called a muselaer ..... they had the keyboard on the right side... resulting in the jacks plucking in the center of the string. creating that plummy sweet sound. Even tho the muselaer is a virginals-like instrument and definitely family. muselaers and virginals are different instruments. Your hypothesis on the name virginals is also not true. Virginals were considered a womens instrument. By the way the name of the instrument is virginalS not virginal. Virginals is not the plural of virginal. For the same reason we use the words, scossors, trousers, shorts etc. Virginals is both a single and a plural. In period documents the instrument is mostly refered to as "a pair of virginals"
@@TrentHamilton theres a group i found a while ago called unholy rackett and they play quite a few old woodwinds like the rackett i find it pretty interesting, theres a lot of vids on their channel i recommend it
@G G He's super serious about that project. To design and perfect something of that calibre takes a lot of time. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes another 3 years or more.
This is very interesting. The History of instruments shows how we have wanted to PLAY & express ourselves. It asks the questions: "Why do I play?". .."Am I passionate enough to go down to the shed & make something?". We are spoilt by modern instruments. All WE have to do is PRACTICE. Thanks for showing that.
I have three rackets - tenor, bass, and contrabass. They are awesome instruments, although there are more than ten openings, so some of the holes are at the ends of small metal tubes that project away from the body of the instruments. These are closed using the inside of your knuckles, so a fingering chart for the instrument is really a fingering/knuckling chart! Don't leave out the dulcians! th-cam.com/video/ovSpmpePMno/w-d-xo.html the guy in the interview is great. He organizes a yearly workshop for early music double reeds (so dulcians and shawms).
@@justaweeb9086 I got mine from a guy out in CA who had a clearinghouse for early music instruments. I bought a SH*TLOAD of instruments from him over the years. Sadly, he retired a few years ago. Keep an eye on eBay. All sorts of instruments come and go, there, and there are a lot of small independent makers who sell instruments there. Then of course, there is google. Just search on "rackett" and see what comes up. Good Luck!
Hey Trent. Dont know whether youve heard of the crumhorn. Thats a fantastic renaissance recorder like instrument very much like the rackett. Played like a recorder but had a double reed under the mouthpiece. Very much an aquired taste.
3d printed light Racketts should be redesigned by big music brands to have an easier cleaning and marketed as "pocket bassoons" for a low price! I'm serious, a low cost bass instrument this compact and this light, that you can bring everywhere in your backpack, would be incredibly practical to so many people!
There's a difference between instruments that ARE obsolete and instruments that were obsolete for a time and are now quite actively performed on. Many Renaissance instruments that were quiescent for a while are played by people who specialize in Renaissance music, including the racket. This video didn't distinguish between the Renaissance and Baroque models, and although it showed a Baroque model it also showed pictures of Renaissance ones. Almost no one plays baroque rackets so it's pretty safe to say they are obsolete (although I have one), but plenty of people play Renaissance ones and even make 3D-printed ones. The racket wasn't replaced by the bassoon, they existed at the same time, both in multiple-sized consorts. Eventually, the bass member of the bassoon family became of great utility compared to other sizes but it was in no way replacing what the racket had once done. Likewise, many people are playing orpharions today, they are not obsolete. The virginal is in many homes, including mine, it has a huge repertory and people need a virginal to play that repertory. Just not obsolete at all. The virginal was NOT replaced by those other instruments, they existed side by side. The Virginal is a type of harpsichord and the most distinguishing feature is that it has two bridges so it's much louder than one would expect from its size (other forms of harpsichords have just one bridge). I enjoy so many of your videos but this one is more inaccurate than any other I've seen.
its time for a revival of all five of them. I know at least one person on youtube experimenting with a very large contrabass racket type contraption. You might be interested. i think he called it a gigaracket. Richard Bobo. Virginals are still being built and you can actually buy kits to build those. They take up so much less space than a full harpsichord and are generally a lot more quiet. i generally think it's a good idea to play period music on period instruments. so revival it is!
Racket, orpharion, and virginals all have been revived. You can buy nice shiny new ones from various makers. Hornpipe (in various traditional forms) never entirely went away. Cornopean -- well, that has become the province of brass instrument collectors, I suppose! :-) Is anyone building new Stölzel-valve instruments? I don't know, but there seem to be enough old ones to go around for those who want to play them.
Hey Trent, I wanted to thank you for videos! I watch a lot of them. I am actually an aspiring composer. I recieved a BA in Music years ago and have to pick up my passion once again. Long story short... i am having a hard finding out information on the Wagner Tuba. Really even finding information on range and fingering has proved difficult. If you could possibly do video on it that would be awesome or I would be grateful for any information or sources you could point me to! Thank Trent and keep up the good work!
It's basically a French horn squished into an oval shape... the timbre is a bit different, but their range is about the same as a horn, and they're played like a Bb/F double horn.
Thanks... need more specific info thou. Especially the area of the instrument range were it notoriously goes sharp. And the best way to compose approaching those areas.
@@RolandHutchinson yeah, I've heard there not that popular with Horniest. They either love or hate them! BUT they are used in movie sound tracks a far amount. Plus I love the sound!
Question. My son is a French Horn player but for marching band they are suppose to play mello. but he isn’t able because he was born with 3 fingers on his right hand. French horn is perfect for him because it’s a left handed instrument. My question is, do mellos come In left handed? Or are they just standard right. Is there another instrument that is similar that is a left handed instrument?
I have recently come across a Buescher Aristocrat from 1940 and I have enjoyed playing it; however, the tuning slides have probably been stuck for 20 years. How would I go about releasing those slides
Hi Trent - This is somewhat on topic: one the oldest non percussion instruments dates back to 3,500 B.C. and was found in ancient Mesopotamia. What is it? It's the pan flute, of course. The pan flute, unlike the five musical instruments in your tutorial, is neither obsolete nor extinct, but is still alive and well. You being an avid musician probably have at least one in you repertoire. 😉 ♫
Most likely origin of the name "virginal": Its short keyboard made it ideal for young people (who were still developing skills with keyboard playing) to play. Once a young lady was skilled enough to graduate on to a big-keyboard instrument like the harpsichord, she was probably of marriageable age (at the ripe old age of 15), and would likely be paired with a suitable suitor and get to work making babies instead.
not true. most virginals and muselaers had a 3 and a half octave compas. harpsichords of that time also had that same compas. There are many many paintings and engravings picturing adult women playing virginals. The virginals was considered a womens instrument. Ps the name of the instrument is not virginal ... but virginals. virginals is not the plural of virginal. virginals is both single and plura. just like the words Trousers scissors, shorts etc. in old documents the instrument is often called "a pair of virginals"
What's the instrument to the right of him? To the right is a tuba looking instrument and above is a silver instrument that has a bell similar to a french horn,but valves like a trumpet
That's a mellophonium. Conn made them and Stan Kenton's jazz orchestra used them in the '60s. Besides that, they are basically a novelty item and could also be considered "obsolete instruments."
Perhaps I could lend you my original " The trumpet and Trombone " by Philip Bate from 1966 which has multiple extinct brass instruments and valve types referenced e.g the 7 belled alto horn devised by Henry Distin and even a 5 valve trumpet on the Merri Franquin system
No. a clavichord uses a different mechanism to sound. Each of the keys is a lever with a flat piece of metal at the end. When you press the key, it causes the other end to go up and hit the string. It's sort of like a modern piano except the sound is very quiet. A virginal, spinet, and harpsichord are basically the same instrument just in different sizes and shapes. They all sound by plucking their strings. Spinets and especially virginals were intended for small rooms and intimate settings. Harpsichords were used in more "concert-y" situations where the keyboard was playing with other instruments.
can you imagine how many were sold by descendants of former owners that they found tucked away in attics and cellars, assumed to be some smoking device? Turkish water pipe haha
no. two completely seperate instruments that are not related to eachother. btw the name is virginals ... not virginal. virginals is not a plural form of virginal. just like the words trousers, scissors, shorts etc. in old documents the instrument is often refered to as "a pair of virginals"
I am sorry, but the virginal is not obsolete whatsoever from the moment that many people -as I, for instance- play it nowadays in concerts and recordings. Many harpsichordists have a virginal now and it is often used depending on the repertoire. I liked your video, but that information is not correct.
indeed. he didnt do any research. he provided so many misinformation. ps: the name of the instrument is virginals... not virginal. virginals is not the plural of virginal. just like the words, trousers, scissors and shorts. In old documents the instrument is often refered to as "a pair of virginals
Your intro and outro themes were for some reason just.. enjoyable... I love it...
I thought the same thing.
Agreed
The cutest in the 90s
Had to be a virgin to play it? Finally an instrument for me!
Me too.
Same
LOL
That intro was the best by far! Such excellent tone quality and control! Simply amazing how far you've come!
Video: awesome, intro: yes
2:52
The Cittern is only nominally a cittern, being more accurately an English Guittar, which was a development of the waldzither. In this case, it' s an exceptionally nice example with a built in piano attachment so the strings can be struck using the keyboard seen next to the bridge.
Re virginals. Unlike in other keyboard instruments, in the virginal the strings are plucked in the middle of their length. This results in a strong fundamental and an emphasis on the odd numbered overtones. This gives it a “pure” or “virginal” sound. This also explains why the strings run perpendicular to the keyboard.
that is not true. By definition virginals are plucked at the end. however ..... in the netherlands an instrument was in use which is called a muselaer ..... they had the keyboard on the right side... resulting in the jacks plucking in the center of the string. creating that plummy sweet sound. Even tho the muselaer is a virginals-like instrument and definitely family. muselaers and virginals are different instruments. Your hypothesis on the name virginals is also not true. Virginals were considered a womens instrument.
By the way the name of the instrument is virginalS not virginal. Virginals is not the plural of virginal. For the same reason we use the words, scossors, trousers, shorts etc. Virginals is both a single and a plural.
In period documents the instrument is mostly refered to as "a pair of virginals"
I'm surprised you didn't talk about things like the Tromba da Tirasi and natural trumpets. Those are cool aswell !
1:57 Hornpipes (or Pibgorns as they are also known as) are still commonly played in Wales.
Wtf is the intro lol
I wondered the same.
Elijah Vazquez honestly
Weird music obviously
Exactly where did he get it from
Obsolete if you're not in the early music/historical performance scene, in which most of these instruments are still widely performed and made.
indeed. he also peddled some outright lies.
love your Channel !! Best Regards from Heiko (ex-professionel Basstrombone Player with the Kiel Philharmonic
I've only heard of the first one because of Richard Bobo's recent video on the gigarackett.
Yes, I saw that too. I was originally going to mention it in this video.
@@TrentHamilton theres a group i found a while ago called unholy rackett and they play quite a few old woodwinds like the rackett i find it pretty interesting, theres a lot of vids on their channel i recommend it
@G G He's super serious about that project. To design and perfect something of that calibre takes a lot of time. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes another 3 years or more.
This is very interesting. The History of instruments shows how we have wanted to PLAY & express ourselves. It asks the questions: "Why do I play?". .."Am I passionate enough to go down to the shed & make something?". We are spoilt by modern instruments. All WE have to do is PRACTICE. Thanks for showing that.
Please do a cover of that intro 😂
My favourite "obsolete" instrument is the Jouhikko, which has had a resurgence in Fennoscandian traditions.
what about the mongolian Morin Khuur?
But it is not obsolete, they still play the Morin Khuur. Bands such as Khusugtun or The Hu
true (second account)
Thats "Joujicko"...
@@isetta4083 I played one of those just this morning
I have three rackets - tenor, bass, and contrabass. They are awesome instruments, although there are more than ten openings, so some of the holes are at the ends of small metal tubes that project away from the body of the instruments. These are closed using the inside of your knuckles, so a fingering chart for the instrument is really a fingering/knuckling chart!
Don't leave out the dulcians! th-cam.com/video/ovSpmpePMno/w-d-xo.html the guy in the interview is great. He organizes a yearly workshop for early music double reeds (so dulcians and shawms).
That's super cool! Where can one find a Rackett?
Hello, are you Richard, the man lf the video: "Richard plays Racketts?
@@forveillelier OMG, is that still up there?! uh...yes. that is a really old video. LOL
@@justaweeb9086 I got mine from a guy out in CA who had a clearinghouse for early music instruments. I bought a SH*TLOAD of instruments from him over the years. Sadly, he retired a few years ago. Keep an eye on eBay. All sorts of instruments come and go, there, and there are a lot of small independent makers who sell instruments there. Then of course, there is google. Just search on "rackett" and see what comes up. Good Luck!
@@sifridbassoon yeah! Its very interesting. Never heard about Sordaune.
OMG the orpharion had fanned frets! Ned Steinberger is probably pretty glad his patent expired before people figured this out.
Hey Trent I just wanted to let you know I've been watching you for 3 years! I love your videos and I love how honest you are!
You've been watching me for three years? Username checks out.
@@TrentHamilton you just gave me a small heart attack, im a big fan.
@@meghanmountsier8099 I'm pretty big myself.
Hey Trent. Dont know whether youve heard of the crumhorn. Thats a fantastic renaissance recorder like instrument very much like the rackett. Played like a recorder but had a double reed under the mouthpiece. Very much an aquired taste.
3d printed light Racketts should be redesigned by big music brands to have an easier cleaning and marketed as "pocket bassoons" for a low price! I'm serious, a low cost bass instrument this compact and this light, that you can bring everywhere in your backpack, would be incredibly practical to so many people!
5. Viola
4. Viola
3. Viola
2. Oboe
1. Oboe
Viola again
Fiona
Man I was expecting the woodwind family! 😂
Wonderful video as always.
That intro was simply epic
There's a difference between instruments that ARE obsolete and instruments that were obsolete for a time and are now quite actively performed on. Many Renaissance instruments that were quiescent for a while are played by people who specialize in Renaissance music, including the racket. This video didn't distinguish between the Renaissance and Baroque models, and although it showed a Baroque model it also showed pictures of Renaissance ones. Almost no one plays baroque rackets so it's pretty safe to say they are obsolete (although I have one), but plenty of people play Renaissance ones and even make 3D-printed ones. The racket wasn't replaced by the bassoon, they existed at the same time, both in multiple-sized consorts. Eventually, the bass member of the bassoon family became of great utility compared to other sizes but it was in no way replacing what the racket had once done. Likewise, many people are playing orpharions today, they are not obsolete. The virginal is in many homes, including mine, it has a huge repertory and people need a virginal to play that repertory. Just not obsolete at all. The virginal was NOT replaced by those other instruments, they existed side by side. The Virginal is a type of harpsichord and the most distinguishing feature is that it has two bridges so it's much louder than one would expect from its size (other forms of harpsichords have just one bridge). I enjoy so many of your videos but this one is more inaccurate than any other I've seen.
hmmm... i am having two of those :D making a virginal and horner pipe is still in use sometimes in slovak folk music
I love how Trent likes to make snobs upset in the comments by putting little idiosyncrasies in his videos hahaha
I think it is more because he provided a shitload of misinformation. Trent clearly didnt do research.
I had heard of the cornopean before, but the rest of these were interesting. Good video sir!
The cornopean is more well known in the US as being a Thanksgiving decoration
thanks for the reasonable video title, i.e. "may not" instead of "NEVER"
its time for a revival of all five of them. I know at least one person on youtube experimenting with a very large contrabass racket type contraption. You might be interested. i think he called it a gigaracket. Richard Bobo. Virginals are still being built and you can actually buy kits to build those. They take up so much less space than a full harpsichord and are generally a lot more quiet. i generally think it's a good idea to play period music on period instruments. so revival it is!
Racket, orpharion, and virginals all have been revived. You can buy nice shiny new ones from various makers. Hornpipe (in various traditional forms) never entirely went away. Cornopean -- well, that has become the province of brass instrument collectors, I suppose! :-) Is anyone building new Stölzel-valve instruments? I don't know, but there seem to be enough old ones to go around for those who want to play them.
I thought there was an audio glitch in the intro for a sec… like it was playing some toy unboxing video soundtrack 😂
Ultimate come out and a trent video. What a deal
HEY!! WHAT'S THAT RACKETT?!
To me the hornpipe just sounds like a very generic amalgamation of all the high double-reeds we are more familiar with.
As a tuba player I can agree never heard of these
Wow. Amazing. Do another vid on this
The intro sounds like the intro of a direct to video live action costume kids tape from the 80s.
The intro was enough for a thumbs-up!
Hey Trent, I wanted to thank you for videos! I watch a lot of them. I am actually an aspiring composer. I recieved a BA in Music years ago and have to pick up my passion once again.
Long story short... i am having a hard finding out information on the Wagner Tuba. Really even finding information on range and fingering has proved difficult.
If you could possibly do video on it that would be awesome or I would be grateful for any information or sources you could point me to!
Thank Trent and keep up the good work!
Send him one, and he'll review it for you.
It's basically a French horn squished into an oval shape... the timbre is a bit different, but their range is about the same as a horn, and they're played like a Bb/F double horn.
Thanks... need more specific info thou. Especially the area of the instrument range were it notoriously goes sharp. And the best way to compose approaching those areas.
The best way to earn hornists' undying gratitude would be to NOT compose for tuben.
@@RolandHutchinson yeah, I've heard there not that popular with Horniest. They either love or hate them! BUT they are used in movie sound tracks a far amount. Plus I love the sound!
Question. My son is a French Horn player but for marching band they are suppose to play mello. but he isn’t able because he was born with 3 fingers on his right hand. French horn is perfect for him because it’s a left handed instrument. My question is, do mellos come In left handed? Or are they just standard right. Is there another instrument that is similar that is a left handed instrument?
Trent, what's the tarnished 3 valve bell up horn behind you?
Its a 3 valver
You read about instruments all the time, but one never expects to actually see one in real life right
Do more brass videos!
Ophicleide?
bubba bubbson or sarrusophone
both ophicleide and sarrusophone are quite well known despite being obsolete
Yes the ophicleide is obsolete
Love the video, trent!
I love your videos and this comment section is iconic
I have recently come across a Buescher Aristocrat from 1940 and I have enjoyed playing it; however, the tuning slides have probably been stuck for 20 years. How would I go about releasing those slides
Delaware Day 2018 - a guy telling us about 5 obsolete instruments.
Hi Trent - This is somewhat on topic: one the oldest non percussion instruments dates back to 3,500 B.C. and was found in ancient Mesopotamia. What is it? It's the pan flute, of course. The pan flute, unlike the five musical instruments in your tutorial, is neither obsolete nor extinct, but is still alive and well. You being an avid musician probably have at least one in you repertoire. 😉 ♫
I don't have the pan flute, but I have played one before.
@@TrentHamilton I own and play a Romanian alto pan flute in the key of C along with my concert flute et al. Happy holidays. 😊 ❄🎄
Most likely origin of the name "virginal":
Its short keyboard made it ideal for young people (who were still developing skills with keyboard playing) to play. Once a young lady was skilled enough to graduate on to a big-keyboard instrument like the harpsichord, she was probably of marriageable age (at the ripe old age of 15), and would likely be paired with a suitable suitor and get to work making babies instead.
not true. most virginals and muselaers had a 3 and a half octave compas. harpsichords of that time also had that same compas. There are many many paintings and engravings picturing adult women playing virginals. The virginals was considered a womens instrument.
Ps the name of the instrument is not virginal ... but virginals. virginals is not the plural of virginal. virginals is both single and plura. just like the words Trousers scissors, shorts etc. in old documents the instrument is often called "a pair of virginals"
This is a fantastic video. Everyone should subscribe and co tribute to Trent’s channel.
I loved the racket!
Terrific. I love it!
What's the instrument to the right of him? To the right is a tuba looking instrument and above is a silver instrument that has a bell similar to a french horn,but valves like a trumpet
That's a mellophonium. Conn made them and Stan Kenton's jazz orchestra used them in the '60s. Besides that, they are basically a novelty item and could also be considered "obsolete instruments."
@@jackg9091 Thanks!
Virginals are NOT obsolete. In fact I build them myself.
Really? That's awesome.
'Les Barricades Mysterieuses' :) That's a great keyboard instrument, artie.
Hmm, I thought the most obsolete instrument was the clarinet
best intro music ever
Obsolete? Oh! I know! The clarinet!
What? No tromba marina? That is a glaring omission on a list of obsolete instruments.
I love the new intro
The Rackett was used to give the power of the Bass because of the Flute Consorts, the Basses are not powerful.
Surprised you didn't get the ophicleide onto the list, or even the serpent!
A virginal is a harpsichord which hasn't been played.
The horn pipe looks and sounds really simalar to the falster pipe believed to be from the Norse ages
Close but no cigar
wouod like to hear these
I really want to know the name of the intro/outro music. It is an absolute bop.
Shoutout to Richard bobo’s gigarackett
Perhaps I could lend you my original " The trumpet and Trombone " by Philip Bate from 1966 which has multiple extinct brass instruments and valve types referenced e.g the 7 belled alto horn devised by Henry Distin and even a 5 valve trumpet on the Merri Franquin system
That would be wonderful :)
I'll send it to your PO address - I'm in Scotland so might take a while to arrive !Cheers
@@sajidhamid6253 Thank you so much :)
Good news - apparently package made it to Auckland Wednesday tracking reference RN550534580GBCheers
@@sajidhamid6253 Hi Giles, please email me TrentHamiltonNZ@gmail.com so we can work out the return of it in due course.
Is the “virginal” not a clavichord?
No. a clavichord uses a different mechanism to sound. Each of the keys is a lever with a flat piece of metal at the end. When you press the key, it causes the other end to go up and hit the string. It's sort of like a modern piano except the sound is very quiet. A virginal, spinet, and harpsichord are basically the same instrument just in different sizes and shapes. They all sound by plucking their strings. Spinets and especially virginals were intended for small rooms and intimate settings. Harpsichords were used in more "concert-y" situations where the keyboard was playing with other instruments.
I love the harsochoed
How many cases do you have?????
Only reason I knew about the rackett is because of Richard Bobo's recent videos.
It seems there’s quite a few people who follow him :)
@@TrentHamilton Indeed. :)
Please bring back the old intro.
NostalgiaKarl K.F. | It was just for this video I think
Seriously, this intro sounds like something out of a Beginner Book Video.
Virginal is obsolete?? They are still being made today!
Who doesn't like a good 'ol SACKBUT?
You are becoming more of a poet
Cool video
How come you aren't playing a cornopean on this video? Or at least, a cornetto or serpent.
Do a video on the Sai music multicolor trumpet lol
I saw the rackett in the thumbnail so I clicked...
can you imagine how many were sold by descendants of former owners that they found tucked away in attics and cellars, assumed to be some smoking device? Turkish water pipe haha
I think that was a racket stop on an organ 😅
VIRGINAL!
the name of the instrument is virginals. not virginal. virginals is not the plural of virginal.
Can you review a cannonball trumpet?
could you do a video on the worlds cheapest piccolo trumpet
I miss the old Trent Hamilton
I am old
@@TrentHamilton who dis?
Wouldn't the virginal be also known as the clavichord?
Nah a virginal is a virginal, whereas a clavichord is a clavichord...
no. two completely seperate instruments that are not related to eachother. btw the name is virginals ... not virginal. virginals is not a plural form of virginal. just like the words trousers, scissors, shorts etc. in old documents the instrument is often refered to as "a pair of virginals"
#1. Woodwinds
Go to any american high school band room, you'll see that the virginal is still around
Is that a burp at 0:02?
So u changed ur bulbs? It flash.
bruhh
that intro
How many instruments do you have?!?
He actually counted on a live stream, he has 32 and 3/4
I thought number one was the clavichord
The clavichord is still used daily
@@KeizerHedorah virginals aswell.
4:56 ZOOOOM
I am sorry, but the virginal is not obsolete whatsoever from the moment that many people -as I, for instance- play it nowadays in concerts and recordings. Many harpsichordists have a virginal now and it is often used depending on the repertoire.
I liked your video, but that information is not correct.
indeed. he didnt do any research. he provided so many misinformation.
ps: the name of the instrument is virginals... not virginal. virginals is not the plural of virginal. just like the words, trousers, scissors and shorts. In old documents the instrument is often refered to as "a pair of virginals
where can i get a rackett
early music shop UK.
now you are just trolling me
The intro.........
Great vid lol
sintered?