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Couesnophone

Couesnophone by French manufacturer Couesnon

The couesnophone, also known as the goofus or queenophone, is a free-reed musical instrument in a saxophone shape, patented by French instrument manufacturer Couesnon in 1924. Its reeds vibrate when the desired keys are activated and the player blows through a tube. "Best described as a mouth-blown accordion,"[1] "it sounded like a cross between a harmonica and an accordion."[2]

Construction

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Illustration from French manufacturer Couesnon's 1924 patent

Couesnon was awarded patent no. 569294 for an instrument that was described as a saxophone jouet (lit. 'toy saxophone'). Unlike the saxophone, the couesnophone is a polyphonic instrument with a set of single reeds, one for each of the notes produced, similar to a melodica. The keys are set in a keyboard with a layout similar to that of the early Hohner melodicas,[3] in parallel rows corresponding to the white and black keys of a piano. Its rubber mouthpiece allows the horn be held and played vertically like a saxophone, or horizontally like a flute or melodica.

Performers

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The couesnophone was introduced into jazz and America by bass saxophonist and vibraphonist Adrian Rollini, though he is sometimes credited with its invention.[1] The term "goofus" might have been coined by jazz musicians such as Rollini,[4] or Ed Kirkeby,[5] because it is easier to pronounce.

Recordings with Rollini on goofus include The Little Ramblers' "Deep Elm";[6] The Goofus Five's "Everybody Love My Baby" and "Oh! How I Love My Darling";[7] the Varsity Eight's "How I Love That Girl", "Doo Wacka Doo", "Oh! Mabel", "Happy (Watchin' All the Clouds Roll By)", "Ain't My Baby Grand?", and "I Ain't Got Nobody to Love";[7] and Joe Venuti and the Eddie Lang Blue Five's "Raggin' the Scale".[7] Don Redman played the goofus on "You'll Never Get to Heaven With Those Eyes", "A New Kind of Man (With a New Kind of Love for Me)", and "Cold Mammas (Burn Me Up)".[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rosenkrantz, Timme (2012). Harlem Jazz Adventures: A European Baron's Memoir, 1934-1969, p.52. Scarecrow. ISBN 9780810882096.
  2. ^ Rollini, Arthur (1995). Thirty Years with the Big Bands, p.6. A&C Black. ISBN 9781871478402.
  3. ^ Missin, Pat. "Melodica Family". patmissin.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ Wood, Ean (1996). Born to Swing, p. 39. Sanctuary. ISBN 9781860741548.
  5. ^ Ed Kirkeby, Duncan P. Schiedt, Sinclair Traill (1975). Ain't Misbehaving: The Story Of Fats Waller, Da Capo. p.186. ISBN 9780306800153.
  6. ^ Govenar, Alan B. and Brakefield, Jay F. (2013). Deep Ellum: The Other Side of Dallas, p.262. Texas A&M University. ISBN 9781603449588.
  7. ^ a b c Stockdale, Robert (2008). The Dorsey Brothers: That's It!, p.1-3 and 193. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781435742598.
  8. ^ Magee, Jeffrey (2005). The Uncrowned King of Swing: Fletcher Henderson and Big Band Jazz, p.61. Oxford University. ISBN 9780195358148.

Further reading

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