ocarina

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ocarina

ocarina (ŏkərēˈnə), musical wind instrument with eight finger holes and two thumb holes, rather egg-shaped, and made of metal, terra-cotta or plastic. Unlike other wind instuments, it produces pure tones that lack overtones. It was invented in the late 19th cent. in Italy and is popular with amateurs for its relative simplicity and low cost. It is occasionally called a “sweet potato” because of its shape.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ocarina

a wind instrument having a whistle-like structure; a type of flute.

The body (earthenware or porcelain) of the ocarina is oval or cigar-shaped and forms a nozzle that has a mouthpiece and whistle opening. The instrument has between seven and ten finger holes, which are used to alter pitch. It plays a diatonic scale. Ocarinas have been made in the most diverse sizes and varieties (ranging from a soprano to a bass). Some are equipped with a tuning plunger and valves. The ocarina is widespread among all peoples. Any of the ceramic whistles usually made in the form of a bird or fish are considered ocarina instruments.

ocarina

an egg-shaped wind instrument with a protruding mouthpiece and six to eight finger holes, producing an almost pure tone

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

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