It's another word for bamboo saxophone, handily pocket sized, cheaper than its metal cousin being without complex valves, and closer to a clarinet, yet sounding remarkably sax-like using a similar mouthpiece and reed. Unlike the saxophone or clarinet, however, it is not in the key of Bb or Eb, but straightforwardly in C, covering two octaves with a full chromatic range. The most common model is usual around 12 inches or 30cm long.
It's ideal for jazz or klezmer music, but due to its short length and large finger-hole size, the pitch of individual notes can be raised and lowered easily, making the xaphoon equally well-suited to play Turkish, Middle Eastern, and other musical scales outside the European tradition.
The instrument's inventor, Brian Wittman, who created it in the 1970s, gives a quick demonstration of his Maui Xaphoon pocket sax. The Maui Xaphoon is also available in the keys of C, B♭, D, and G.
And here is Erik The Flutemaker, doing his own demonstration, with a variety of dirtier, jazzier tones on an alto version, and his own unique brand of enthusiasm:
Another variant is the Goldstar BambooSax, made by Britain's Chris Tummings. First he demonstrates how to play the C major scale:
And now some Latin jazz:
But are they as good as the normal saxophone. Here also is Mr. Saxaflute, making a favourable comparison between the small bamboo the more conventional soprano saxophone, the sopranino:
So then, care to share your thoughts, or experiences of hearing or playing the xaphoon? Care to whistle up a few more from your music collection? Please feel free to share any further examples in songs, instrumentals, on albums, film, art or other contexts in comments below.
You can also get in touch the contact page, and also visit us on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share. New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Please make any donation to help keep Song Bar running: