The carillon is a percussion instrument that consists of about twenty-three to seventy cup-shaped bells. Its name originated from the French word ‘quadrillon,’ which means, ‘four bells.’ In Germany, the carillon is called the Glockenspiel. These bells were housed inside a bell tower, church, or municipal building. Also, the carillon bells were … Read more
The kemenche or kamancheh is a bottle-shaped instrument that came from the north-eastern Asia Minor bordering the Black Sea. This stringed instrument has a substantial symbolic value and cultural identity for the Pontic Greeks. The name of this instrument came from a Persian origin that means “little bow” or “small bow.” As … Read more
The kutiyapi, also known as kudyapi, is a two-stringed boat lute that originated in the Philippines. Some name variations also existdepending on what region it is used. In Maguindanao, this instrument was referred to as ‘kutiapi,’ while the Maranao called this ‘kotyapi.’ At the same time, the Subanon named it ‘kotapi.’ The … Read more
The conga drum is a percussion instrument that originated from Africa. Its exact origin is unknown, but researchers agree that the conga was developed by Cuban people in the late 19th century or early 20th century.It is a single-headed drum that became famous after they were included in Cuban music. Traditional conga … Read more
The wooden fish is a percussion instrument that is made out of a hollow wooden block. Sometimes, a variety of wooden fishes were made of plastics. Buddhist priests usually used this instrument to beat rhythms when they are chanting scriptures. Also known as the Mokugyo, Chinese temple block or wooden bell, this … Read more
The taiko is a Japanese percussion instrument that has contributed to and influenced the musical styles of Japanese music. There are different sizes of taikos. The sizes range from the size of a snare drum to the size of a car. However, the most commonly used taiko was the ‘chu-daiko,’ which is … Read more
The diddley bow is a primitive one-stringed guitar that influences the development of the blues music genre.It is also known as one-string, jitterbug, or monochord zither.This instrument was also considered as a starter or practice instrument in the Southern part of America, mostly in the African-American community.Nevertheless, professional musicians nowadays use the … Read more
The Cuatro is a Latin American stringed instrument that has its origin in Europe. However, it is usually played in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and other Latin American countries. The history of the Cuatro starts many centuries ago with the expansion of the popularity of the Spanish Guitar. The latter instrument is a … Read more