Xenophone: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Weird and wacky musical instruments, that can show up in comedy, fantasy or SF, which came straight out of the author's head and look, well, weird--and [[Awesome but Impractical|probably wouldn't work in real life]]. The ones that ''do'' work in real life are mostly based on an existing musical principle, but explored in a new way with novel materials and some bits stuck on. Maybe they aren't even actually intended to make music. Some are really more like noisy [[Rube Goldberg Device|Rube Goldberg Devices]].

 

Often, but not always, played by a [[Dreadful Musician]]. Has nothing to do with [[Xenophon (Creator)|Xenophon]].

{{examples}}

== Anime & Manga ==

* The Detragan from ''[[Professor Layton and The Eternal Diva (Anime)|Professor Layton and The Eternal Diva]]'', which appears to combine a pipe organ, a harp, an accordion, tubular bells, numerous brass instruments, and an entire drumset. The whole thing is played using a single keyboard.

* Argentine comedian Hugo Varela is famous for his musical routines which involves lots of funny-looking musical instruments made entirely of scrap material or unusual things like a ''chamberpot''. And they sound incredibly well, to boot.

* The "old school" of the [[Industrial]] genre was notorious for the use of these, most often as percussion; hence, the semi-derisive nickname "metal-bangers". See [[wikipedia:Einstürzende Neubauten|Einstürzende Neubauten]], with ''Concerto For Voice And Machinery'' being particularly righteous.

* There is [http://chalmersbarockensemble.se/eng/index.html a student symphony orchestra in Göteborg, Sweden], that ends all their concertos with the same piece. It's called "Joke". Its most distinctive feature is that the percussion consists of a toilet being smashed to pieces.

** See also George Maciunas' "Piece For Piano"...