Manual

chromatic

440 Hz the a'

two octaves

overblowing in the duodecimo

tenor saxophone reed

The Origin of the XaphoonThe Xaphoon

t was just a few years ago, that only a handful of people knew about the

xaphoon. Today, the xaphoon has become a serious alternative to the

recorder, a beginning instrument or an instrument played before chang-

ing to other reed instruments.

The idea for the reed instruments has its origin in the Arabian area. The cha-

lumeau, which is the precursor of the clarinet and the xaphoon, had a bright

sound due to its small mouthpiece. Initially, the chalumeau had no keys, but

later one and then two keys until the clarinet developed from this and then

the clarinet completely displaced this very simply constructed instrument.

Still today, there are classical pieces, which were written for the chalumeau,

from the Baroque.

The xaphoon is basically a further development of the chalumeau by the

American Brian Wittman, who comes from California and now produces

the instruments in Maui, Hawaii in his workshop. The mouthpiece was

changed and its own finger-hole system was developed, which makes the

sound more sonorous and the instrument can now be played chromatically

over two octaves.

The xaphoon has allowed, for the first time in history, a greater number of

people access to this type of instrument and this is even worldwide. In the

meantime, an independent xaphoon culture has developed. The first record-

ings with the xaphoon have been published and the xaphoon is played at con-

certs and used in instruction.

The standardized XAPHOON, which has just been introduced into the mar-

ket, now provides the xaphoon in its "high tech" variation.

The name was developed from

the bamboo (sax)ophone to

bamboo (sax)xophoon to

bamboo xaphoon

and finally to Maui xaphoon.

The special thing and the really new

aspect of this instrument is the full and

sonorous sound.

It is simply constructed, easy to hold and

carry. For a reed instrument, it is small

and handy. The Xaphoon is relatively easy

to learn to play and so it is an instrument

for professionals and for beginners as

well.

The best part: It is new and therefore

there are no rules for playing the instru-

ment.