Talk:Flexatone

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Use[edit]

About the use of the Flexatone.

The Khatchaturian Piano Concerto calls for the flexatone in the second movement, but the instruments you can buy today are unfit for the purpose. In search for better instruments we came across the sawlady's webpage about flexatone, where she argues that the instrument was called to replace the musical saw. I have tried to go back - replace the flexatone with a musical saw - in this piece. It made sense! Ben.

As you can see here, a normal flexatone is perfectly suitable for the piano concerto. The only thing a musical saw has in common with a flexatone is that it's made of metal and bent. The wailing tremolo effect intended by Khatchaturian is totally different. -- megA (talk) 12:28, 27 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Easy explanation for the confusion about the flexatone and the musical saw: "Flexaton" could mean both for a long time. Why Khachaturian had probably intended the sound of the musical saw for his piano concerto is explained here: http://www.singende-saege.com/khachaturian-piano-concerto.html Most important sign: the missing instruction "tremolo". Khachaturian didn't note "tremolo", but f.e.Schoenberg in his Orchestra Variations. --Sägenprofi (talk) 21:24, 22 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

" Aram Khachaturian wrote for it in his Piano Concerto (though here the flexatone is now often omitted)." Having recently performed this piece, I would change this to (the flexatone is now often replaced by a theremin). The theremin produces a similar sound, is easier to play and is more available. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.124.92.254 (talk) 22:48, 31 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The theremin completely lacks the "jingling" quality of the Flexatone. You might as well substitute a flute for a xylophone... -- megA (talk) 19:22, 16 December 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Khachaturian probably didn't want the jingling "quality" of the flexatone, but the smooth sound of a musical saw, that "sings" unisono with the high violins. Why should he use in this lyrical moment the alarming doorbell sound of a flexatone? That doesn't make sense.--Sägenprofi (talk) 21:24, 22 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, authors. The flexatone is also in the background music of the movie, The Tin Drum, based on the Gunther Grass novel. It's a remarkable instrument. Please, if you all can, cite this properly. I am unable still to understand how to do this, for the few times I find a place where I can contribute. :) 4 July 2013

As far as I can tell, the flexatone is used somewhere at the beginning of this page. Could anyone verify that Schnittke used it in his Faust cantata as well and then add it to this wikipedia page? Since there are several other references to works by Schnittke on this flexatone page already, I strongly suspect the instrumentation in the link to be correct. HSNie 00:00, 22 May 2017 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by HSNie (talk • contribs)

Beach boys song[edit]

If I remember right, the Flexatone has been heavily used in a song performed by The Beach Boys. This could/should be added in the article, but I can't remember the song's title. --77.4.34.55 (talk) 13:26, 30 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I never heard about that, and have my doubts about it. I have a feeling you are thinking of "Good Vibrations", but what that uses is not the Flexatone, but the Theremin. M.J.E. (talk) 05:23, 19 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Pitched or unpitched[edit]

The article is currently in both Category:Pitched percussion and Category:Unpitched percussion. How is it both? If not, which one is it? Hyacinth (talk) 05:07, 5 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Newtype??[edit]

Is this the instrument used for the "Newtype flash" sound effect in the Gundam anime series? 75.158.35.166 (talk) 22:03, 29 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Flingaphone?[edit]

Used one of these in a recording circa 1972. The guy who brought it to the session called it a 'Flingaphone'. Never seen that word used anywhere else since. Anyone ? Bluedawe 22:09, 24 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]