LP Latin Percussion Flex-a-Tone Standard LP1-5

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Alfred Schnittke used it in his Faust Cantata (1983), in the Tuba Mirum movement of his Requiem (1975), in his Viola Concerto (1985), [25] and in his score for the ballet Peer Gynt (1987), the flexatone represents the sound of the moaning wind. Combinations of Digital Dancehall’s basic digital rhythms, with added acoustic instruments exist out there, though. Relatively most of these idiophones are “struck” in one way or the other, and on one of these I am going to focus now: the “Flexatone” (also spelled as Flex-a-tone).

Its use in reggae is therefore mainly part of an African musical aesthetic, fitting the Black music genre that is Reggae. Some reggae percussionists (before and now) also like rattle sounds, such as from the “vibra-slap” instrument. Compositional and Orchestrational Trends in the Orchestral Percussion Section Between the Years of 1960-2009", p. These possibilities have been used widely in various genres, though one can say that the variation and use differs per genre.

In playing the flexatone, the performer must hold the flexatone in one hand, with the palm around the instrument’s wireframe and the thumb on the free side of the spring steel. Shake the flexatone with a trembling movement which makes the beaters to strike the sides of the metal sheet. The sound of this instrument can be compared to that of the musical saw, a 'flexible' tone that changes smoothly in pitch.

One can overall conclude, that Reggae is a music genre with relatively much use of extra, acoustic percussion (beyond the drum kit), and as part of that the use of the Flexatone is not uncommon. At least on these Culture albums One Stone and Payday, which are further nonetheless overall nice albums, in my opinion (despite subdued percussion, haha). It gives an interesting list of songs, but fails to mention any Reggae song, while there are several examples. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site.I aim to comment on and discuss several topics and phenomena I'm interested or specialized in (see underneath for more information). I argue therefore that the flexatone does not sound very European – or out of place – within an often Africa-focussed - and at least African-influenced genre - like Reggae. My list is just illustrative and informative, and not meant as exhaustive nor as representative as such. Oddly, Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany banned the Flexatone, along with other instruments (cowbells, brushes), for being (I quote) “alien to the German spirit” or “Aryan musicality”.