Post by Dick Glasgow on Jul 16, 2007 20:19:28 GMT 1
The Ukelin / Violin Uke
Photo of an old Antique Ukelin
The Ukelin is a bowed psaltery with zither chords, in other words, a "Chord Zither".
Photo of an old Antique UkelinThe Ukelin is a bowed psaltery with zither chords, in other words, a "Chord Zither".
"Ukelin" is the name of a bowed stringed musical instrument which combines the Hawaiian ukulele (uke) with the violin (lin).
Other names encountered include the Violin Uke and Hawaiian Art Violin.
Manufactured and sold from the 1920's until 1972, it is the product of a musical-gadget minded time, when instrument inventors and manufacturers raced to outdo one another with cross-bred instrument novelties and musical monstrosities.
Ukelins have two levels of strings.
The first set of sixteen strings, played with a short violin-like bow, is tuned to the scale of C (from middle C on a piano to the C two octaves above, in the key of G for the violin uke).
This set fans out in a configuration also found in African instruments such as the thumb piano and the kora.
Beneath these strings run four groups of four strings, each group tuned to a chord.
Decals are pasted beneath the strings, indicating the note the string should be tuned to.
These decals also have numbers corresponding to a unique system of notation. Ornamental decals sometimes surround the sound hole as well.
Formally, it's a bowed psaltery with zither chords.
It officially falls under the category "chord zither" listed in Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary , Sibyl Marcuse, ©1964, Doubleday.
Bob’s Ukelin Home
Other names encountered include the Violin Uke and Hawaiian Art Violin.
Manufactured and sold from the 1920's until 1972, it is the product of a musical-gadget minded time, when instrument inventors and manufacturers raced to outdo one another with cross-bred instrument novelties and musical monstrosities.
Ukelins have two levels of strings.
The first set of sixteen strings, played with a short violin-like bow, is tuned to the scale of C (from middle C on a piano to the C two octaves above, in the key of G for the violin uke).
This set fans out in a configuration also found in African instruments such as the thumb piano and the kora.
Beneath these strings run four groups of four strings, each group tuned to a chord.
Decals are pasted beneath the strings, indicating the note the string should be tuned to.
These decals also have numbers corresponding to a unique system of notation. Ornamental decals sometimes surround the sound hole as well.
Formally, it's a bowed psaltery with zither chords.
It officially falls under the category "chord zither" listed in Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Dictionary , Sibyl Marcuse, ©1964, Doubleday.
Bob’s Ukelin HomeThis is another of those strange instruments that was sold door-to-door and in some catalogs from the '30s to the '50s or '60s.
Like the Marxolin, this is a combination of a bowed psaltery and zither.
However, unlike the Marxoline, which has the psaltery and zither parts side-by-side, the Ukelin has them on top and bottom.
This instrument has rubber feet on the back so this instrument was meant to be played on a table top pointing away from you.
You strummed the chord strings (over the lower sound hole) and bowed the psaltery strings through the metal guides on the side.
The guides made sure you bowed in exactly the right spot on each string.
And, of course, all the strings are labeled with their appropriate notes.
Ukelin
Like the Marxolin, this is a combination of a bowed psaltery and zither.
However, unlike the Marxoline, which has the psaltery and zither parts side-by-side, the Ukelin has them on top and bottom.
This instrument has rubber feet on the back so this instrument was meant to be played on a table top pointing away from you.
You strummed the chord strings (over the lower sound hole) and bowed the psaltery strings through the metal guides on the side.
The guides made sure you bowed in exactly the right spot on each string.
And, of course, all the strings are labeled with their appropriate notes.
UkelinThe Ukelin and Related Instruments
"Ukelin" is one of the more common trade names of a type of stringed musical instrument marketed from the early 1920s until about 1965.
Ukelins combine two sets of strings, one group of sixteen strings tuned to the scale of C (from middle C on a piano to the C two octaves above) plus four groups of four strings, each group tuned to a chord.
The instrument is meant to be placed on a table with the larger end toward the performer, and while the right hand plays the melody on the treble strings with a violin bow, accompanying chords are played on the bass strings with the left hand using either the fingers or a pick.
Each string and chord group is numbered, and sheet music is provided in a special numerical system intended to simplify playing for persons unable to read standard musical notation.
Ukelin - Encyclopedia Smithsonian
"Ukelin" is one of the more common trade names of a type of stringed musical instrument marketed from the early 1920s until about 1965.
Ukelins combine two sets of strings, one group of sixteen strings tuned to the scale of C (from middle C on a piano to the C two octaves above) plus four groups of four strings, each group tuned to a chord.
The instrument is meant to be placed on a table with the larger end toward the performer, and while the right hand plays the melody on the treble strings with a violin bow, accompanying chords are played on the bass strings with the left hand using either the fingers or a pick.
Each string and chord group is numbered, and sheet music is provided in a special numerical system intended to simplify playing for persons unable to read standard musical notation.
Ukelin - Encyclopedia SmithsonianThe most commonly found variant on the ukelin design is the Violin-Uke.
This instrument was designed by the prolific Henry Charles Marx (who vociferously denied stealing the design from Phonoharp or the International Music Company or anybody else).
For the definitive story on the Ukelin Patent Wars, including drawings of the original designs and some very cool old pictures of men in top hats and suits industriously sawing away on their ukelins, go to Bob's Ukelin Home: History.
The Violin-Uke is considerably smaller than the Ukelin, and far less ridiculous-looking. Because of its smaller size it is less awkward to play.
On the other hand, it doesn't sound quite as good.
On yet another hand, it's in the key of G, which is a nice change from most of the other chord zithers, which are in C.
Which is a good reason to own one of each.
Ukelin and Friends
This instrument was designed by the prolific Henry Charles Marx (who vociferously denied stealing the design from Phonoharp or the International Music Company or anybody else).
For the definitive story on the Ukelin Patent Wars, including drawings of the original designs and some very cool old pictures of men in top hats and suits industriously sawing away on their ukelins, go to Bob's Ukelin Home: History.
The Violin-Uke is considerably smaller than the Ukelin, and far less ridiculous-looking. Because of its smaller size it is less awkward to play.
On the other hand, it doesn't sound quite as good.
On yet another hand, it's in the key of G, which is a nice change from most of the other chord zithers, which are in C.
Which is a good reason to own one of each.
Ukelin and FriendsThe jury is still out as to if Mr. Marx's bowed instruments predate the ukelin as his grandson contends.
However, Mr. Marx can be numbered as one of a number of late 19th century/early 20th century musical gadget manufacturers who combined two or more instruments into one: the Hawaiian ukelele and bowed violin, in this instance.
Other Marxochime Colony hybrids contributions include the Banjolin, Hawaii-Phone, Mandolin-Uke, Marx Piano Harp, Marxolin
Marxolin, Hawiian Art-Violin, Banjolin, Guitarolin, Ukelin and Violin-Uke
However, Mr. Marx can be numbered as one of a number of late 19th century/early 20th century musical gadget manufacturers who combined two or more instruments into one: the Hawaiian ukelele and bowed violin, in this instance.
Other Marxochime Colony hybrids contributions include the Banjolin, Hawaii-Phone, Mandolin-Uke, Marx Piano Harp, Marxolin
Marxolin, Hawiian Art-Violin, Banjolin, Guitarolin, Ukelin and Violin-Uke