Zanzithophone

The Casio DH-100, with packaging and user manual.

Zanzithophone is a name given to an electronic MIDI digital wind controller/synthesizer musical instrument in a book by Kim Cooper called In the Aeroplane over the Sea. The Zanzithophone can also be referred to as a "Digital Horn." This instrument was produced by Casio in the mid 1980s, presented as either the DH-100 (silver) or DH-200 (black). A later model, DH-280, was the same instrument with an added "accompaniment module.' This module was carried into the DH-800: a cartridge insert provided four pre-recorded songs. These songs consisted of When the Saints go Marching In,Air on the (sic) G String,Chopin's Nocturne, and I Lost the DOH in my Clarinet, each of which could be played with or without melody. The module also provided sixteen standard rhythms.

Each model has six built in synthesized sounds; saxophone, trumpet, synth-reed, oboe, clarinet, and flute. The tones produced are audibly more 'electronic' than the tones of the real instruments named. The Zanzithophone looks like a clarinet/saxophone hybrid, and can be played with recorder fingerings over a two-octave range, or with the "Casio system" (similar to standard brass instrument fingering) which allows for up to 4 octaves to be played. A 'transpose' button permits the player to change to any chromatic key over a two-octave range. The DH-280 also had a tuning button. A key near the top of the instrument allows a portamento-like slide between notes. Finally, a switch permitted the instrument to be played without blowing through it, making the keys operate like a digital keyboard.

These instruments were breath-sensitive for volume. Unlike other digital wind controllers, the breath actually flows through the instrument, making it feel similar to an acoustic woodwind instrument. Each came with a small built-in speaker, and also had an output cable for external amplification. MIDI OUT capability of the instrument means that it can be used to control sounds from other MIDI synthesizers that offered a MIDI IN connection. These features, as well as the low price (since it was initially marketed as a toy), increased its appeal to budget-minded musicians.

Power for the instruments came from five AA batteries, with provision for connecting an aftermarket 7.5 volt AC adaptor.

The instruments are prone to developing a squeal. This is because of a capacitor deteriorating; it can be fixed by replacing the capacitor. None of the instruments had a read-out display of any type, so transposing, changing tone, and other functions generally required counting button-clicks.

This instrument was most notably used by The Elephant 6 Recording Company based in Athens, Georgia and by Was (Not Was) in live performance of I Feel Better than James Brown Also notable in the intro to album cut "I Blew Up the United States."

References in literature

The zanzithophone is mentioned in a footnote on page 66 of Kim Cooper's book In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (New York: Continuum, 2005), in reference to Elephant 6 band Neutral Milk Hotel's album of the same name, which featured the instrument. Other than this one reference in the book, no one else calls the Casio DH Series horns a 'Zanzithophone'.

See also

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