Editing Melodica

{{Short description|Free-reed instrument}}
{{For multi|the EP by Blackalicious|Melodica (EP)|the Neil Zaza album|Melodica (album)}}{{Distinguish|Harmonica}}{{Infobox instrument
| name                  = Melodica
| names                 = 
| image                 = Melodica.jpg
| image_capt            = [[Hohner]] melodica
| background            = keyboard
| classification        = [[Wind instrument|Wind]]; [[free reed aerophone]]
| hornbostel_sachs      = 412.132
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = [[Free reed aerophone|Free-reed]] [[aerophone]]
| developed             = 1950s
| range                 = Usually 2 or 3 [[octave]]s
| related               = [[accordion]], [[harmonica]], [[pump organ]], [[Yu (wind instrument)|yu]]
}}

The '''melodica''' is a handheld [[Free reed aerophone|free-reed instrument]] similar to a [[pump organ]] or [[harmonica]]. It features a [[musical keyboard]] on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usually covers two or three [[octave]]s. Melodicas are small, lightweight, and portable, and many are designed for children to play. They are popular in music education programs, especially in Asia. The modern form of the instrument was invented by [[Hohner]] in the late 1950s,<ref>{{cite web|author=Missin P |date=2004 |title=A Brief History of Mouth-Blown Free Reed Instruments: Melodica Family |url=http://www.patmissin.com/history/melodica.html |access-date=2013-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926132112/http://www.patmissin.com/history/melodica.html |archive-date=2013-09-26 }}</ref> though similar instruments have been known in Italy since the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.duskyrecords.nl/vibrandoneon.engels.html |title=Vibrandoneon |publisher=Duskyrecords.nl |access-date=2013-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822183832/http://www.duskyrecords.nl/vibrandoneon.engels.html |archive-date=2016-08-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Description ==
The mouthpiece can be a short rigid or semi-flexible plastic piece or a long flexible plastic tube (designed to allow the player to either hold the keyboard so the keys can be seen or lay the keyboard horizontally on a flat surface for two-handed playing). A foot pump can also be used as an alternative to breathing into the instrument.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oscar Bettison – Composer: Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.oscarbettison.com/press-articles/latimes_040812.html |website=www.oscarbettison.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cutiefulchristina.com/2008/01/blow-keyboard-with-foot-pump.html Blow Keyboard with foot pump], using [[Wine barrel|wine cask]] / [[bota bag]], [[Cork (plug)|cork]], tubes and a [[pump]], in a similar way to feet [[bagpipes]].</ref><ref>[http://makezine.com/2008/06/23/blow-keyboard-bagpipe-mod/ Blow keyboard bagpipe mod] in magazine ''[[Make (magazine)|Make]]''</ref> Melodica keyboards typically ascend from a low F note. Keyboards often have 32 or 37 keys, though instruments may have as few as 13 or as many as 45 keys. Larger models include the Hammond Pro 44 or the Ballone Burini Eolina P45, with 44 and 45 keys respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://franklinchen.com/blog/2015/02/18/discovering-the-eolina-a-beautiful-musical-instrument/|title=Discovering the Eolina, a beautiful musical instrument|last=Chen|first=Franklin|date=2015-02-18|access-date=2024-04-11}} See also [https://www.akkordeoncentrum.de/akkordeon/001662/Ballone-Burini-Eolina-P45 Ballone Burini Eolina P45 Holz], ''www.akkordeoncentrum.de'' (accessed April 11, 2024).</ref>

As a [[Free reed aerophone|free reed instrument]], the melodica produces sound by pushing air past individual reeds corresponding to each playable note. When a key is pressed, it opens a valve blocking its corresponding reed, allowing air to pass through it. The sound of each vibrating reed reverberates in the shell of the instrument, which may be made of plastic, timber or metal. Players can control the instrument's volume with air pressure. Unlike most wind instruments, the melodica can play multiple notes simultaneously, limited only by the amount of air available.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=The Ultimate Guide to the Melodica in 2023 |url=https://melodicaworld.com/whats-a-melodica/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=melodicaworld.com |language=en-US}}</ref> An external microphone can be used to amplify the instrument or record its sound.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-19 |title=How to Mic a Melodica |url=https://rangeofsounds.com/uncategorized/how-to-mic-a-melodica/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Range of Sounds |language=en-US}}</ref> Hammond's Pro-44 melodion and Pro 24-B bass melodion each have built-in dynamic microphones which can be connected to a PA system or recording device via a single [[Phone_connector_(audio)|TRS 1/4" jack output]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro44Hv2 Melodion {{!}} Hammond USA |work=Hammond USA - The Sound. The Soul. The One. |date=8 January 2021 |url=https://hammondorganco.com/products/melodions/pro44hv2-melodion/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> As early as 1968, Hohner sold a "Professional" model of its Melodica with a built-in pickup.<ref>"Hohner's great new electronic keyboards give you all the great new sounds" (advertisement). Down Beat 35:13 (27 June 1968), 13.</ref>

Melodicas range in price from under US$20 for a simple, plastic instrument to several thousand dollars for a rare, custom-made or antique model.

==Use==
{{Main articles|Melodica in music}}
The melodica was first used as a serious musical instrument in the 1960s by composers such as [[Steve Reich]], in his piece titled ''Melodica'' (1966).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/licensing/music/Steve-Reich-Melodica/3275|title=Steve Reich – ''Melodica''|publisher=[[Boosey & Hawkes]]|date=1966-05-22|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref> Brazilian multi-instrumentalist [[Hermeto Pascoal]] developed a technique consisting of singing while playing the melodica, resulting in a wide tonal and harmonic palette.<ref>{{YouTube|_6maZJA0-Yc|Hermeto Pascoal – Rebuliço}}</ref> Jamaican [[dub music|dub]] and [[reggae]] musician [[Augustus Pablo]] popularized it in the 1970s,<ref>{{cite web|author=Kliment and Watchtel|date=2007|title=Augustus Pablo|url= http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=augustus_pablo|access-date=2013-07-03}}</ref> and his son [[Addis Pablo]] takes after him in the same genres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caribbean Creators: Addis Pablo |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/caribbean-creators-addis-pablo-621042 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Loop News |language=en}}</ref> The American musician [[Jon Batiste]] was often seen playing a melodica on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2018 |first=Yoshi |last=Kato |title=Jon Batiste of 'Late Show' to draw on New Orleans, NY sounds at local shows |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/jon-batiste-of-late-show-to-draw-on-new-orleans-ny-sounds-at-local-shows |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Datebook |language=en-US}}</ref> Funk keyboardist [[Bernie Worrell]] played melodica on multiple recordings in [[Bootsy Collins]]'s discography.<ref>{{Citation |title=Glory B da Funk's on Me!: The Bootsy Collins Anthology |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/glory-b-da-funks-on-me!-the-bootsy-collins-anthology-mw0000004954/credits |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}}</ref> The instrument is also associated with the [[Inti Raymi]] festival in [[Otavalo (city)|Otavalo]], Ecuador.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wibbelsman |first=Michelle |date=2005 |title=Encuentros: Dances of the Inti Raymi in Cotacachi, Ecuador |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4121678 |journal=Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=195–226 |doi=10.1353/lat.2006.0014 |jstor=4121678 |issn=0163-0350}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Inti Raymi, a party to give thanks by the rhythm of the stomp |website=Ecuador Travel Press |url=https://ecuador.travel/press/inti-raymi-a-party-to-give-thanks-by-the-rhythm-of-the-stomp/ |access-date=2023-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004224711/https://ecuador.travel/press/inti-raymi-a-party-to-give-thanks-by-the-rhythm-of-the-stomp/ |archive-date=2022-10-04 }}</ref>

== Types ==
[[File:Klaviatur-3-en.svg|300px|thumb|Layout of a melodica keyboard with three [[octave]]s (36 keys)]]
{{listen|type=music
| filename     = Melodica rakesofkildare.ogg
| title        = Solo melodica
| description  = Clavietta melodica playing [[Irish traditional music]], "Rakes of Kildare", played by Troy Banarzi
}}
Melodicas are classified primarily by the range of the instrument. Melodicas with different ranges have slightly different shapes.
* '''Soprano''' and '''alto melodicas''' are higher-pitched and thinner sounding than tenors. Some are designed to be played with both hands at once: the left hand plays the black keys, and the right hand plays the white keys. Others are played like the tenor melodica.
* '''Tenor melodicas''' are a lower-pitched type of melodica. The left hand holds a handle on the bottom, and the right hand plays the keyboard. Tenor melodicas can be played with two hands by inserting a tube into the mouthpiece hole and placing the melodica on a flat surface.
* '''Bass melodicas''' include the Hohner Melodica-Basso (discontinued), the Suzuki B-24 Bass Melodion<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suzuki Bass Melodions |url=http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/products/melodion/bass.html |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Suzuki Europe Ltd. }}</ref> and the Hammond Bass Melodion BB-24.
* The '''Accordina''' aka 'Chromatic Button Melodica', generally made of metal, uses the same mechanism and reeds as a traditional melodica. The keyboard is replaced with a button arrangement similar to a [[chromatic button accordion]]'s keyboard.

==Alternative names==
The melodica is known by various names, often at the whim of the manufacturer. ''Melodion'' ([[Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation|Suzuki]]), ''Triola'' (Seydel), ''Melodika'' (Apollo), ''Melodia'' (Diana), ''Pianica'' ([[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]), ''Melodihorn'' ([[Samick]]), ''Melodyhorn'' (Angel), ''Diamonica'' (Bontempi), ''Pianetta'' (Guerrini), ''face piano'',{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} and ''Clavietta'' (Borel/Beuscher) are just some of the variants. When a recording technician unfamiliar with the melodica called it a "hooter", the band [[the Hooters]] took that as their name.<ref>{{cite book|title=What's in a Name? – The Book of Bands|first=John|last=Darling|year=2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIUs9GwfMVIC&pg=PT31|publisher=Xlibris|isbn=978-0-595-09629-9}}</ref>[[File:Hohner Melodica Soprano.png|thumb|250px|[[Hohner]] Melodica Soprano: right side, keyboard and bottom views]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Melodica with tube.jpg|upright|Played horizontally, with two hands and an air tube
File:Melodica two-hand-playing by Pianonymous at Musical Instruments Fair Japan 2016.jpg|Played vertically, with two hands and an air tube
Melodica without tube.jpg|Melodica being played vertically, with one hand and without air tube
Suzuki Wood keyboard harmonica Melodion W-37.jpg|Wooden melodica; Suzuki Wood Melodion W-37
Hohner alto melodica.jpg|Hohner alto melodica
Accordina_drawing_from_US_Patent_2461806.png|Patent drawing for accordina
Аккордина.JPG|Accordina being played
Fagen of Steely Dan at Pori Jazz 2007 (cropped).jpg|[[Donald Fagen]] with a Yamaha Pianica in 2007
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Accordion]]
* [[Claviola]]
* [[Couesnophone]]
* [[Harmonica]]
* [[Melodica in music]]
* [[Melodica Men]]
* [[Pump organ]]
{{clear|right}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Melodicas}}
* [https://melodicaworld.com/ Melodicaworld]

{{Reed aerophones}}
{{Musical keyboards}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Free reed aerophones]]
[[Category:Keyboard instruments]]