Unearthing Sound: A Review of Unique Instruments Around the World

Written by SeoHyun Park

Image source: Adobe images

There are over 1,500 instruments around the world. Instruments like violins, trumpets and drums are instruments we see every day. However, there are some instruments that some people have never heard of. These instruments have their very own unique and beautiful features and sounds, ranging from the raging Zeusaphone to the buzzy Stylophone. This article will explain in more depth about strange yet magnificent instruments people use globally.

The Zeusaphone

The Zeusaphone is a special type of dual-resonant solid-state coil, or DRSSTC. It is distinguished from old-fashioned Tesla coils in that it uses modern high-power transistors to pulse electricity through the primary coil instead of using a physical air gap. This instrument is very intimidating and also very dangerous. Its name came from a Greek myth, being named after Zeus, the god of lightning. 

The Wintergatan Marble Machine

Can you imagine playing music using only 2000 marbles and nothing else? The Wintergatan Marble Machine is a hand-cranked music box loaded with instruments, including a circuit of 2,000 cascading steel marbles. As the device cycles, it activates a vibraphone, bass, kick drum, cymbal and other instruments that play a score programmed into a 32-bar loop composed of LEGO Technic parts. The marbles are moved internally through the machine using funnels, pulleys, and tubes.

The Nyckelharpa

This instrument is a mixture of a guitar and violin. The nyckelharpa, otherwise known as the keyed fiddle, is a 600-year-old traditional instrument. The modern variation has 16 strings, and there are 37 keys that slide underneath them to create notes, just like frets on a guitar.

The Pyrophone

Music can also be made through science. The pyrophone has a meaning of ‘fire sound'. This instrument is a series of pipes much like an organ, but the sound is made by applying combustion to the pipes, usually with propane or gasoline. Anyone who uses it should be careful not to burn themselves!

Of course, there are more mythical and interesting instruments around the world. They use plants, test tubes and simple materials to create a whole variety of music. This is evidence of how the world has developed through music. Although some of these instruments are very rare, they all represent the creativity and beauty of their country and the musicians who play them.