Flapamba
Flapamba (from the Emil Richards Collection)
Percussion instrument
Classification Keyboard percussion
Hornbostel–Sachs classification111.212
(Sets of percussion sticks)
Inventor(s)Brent Seawell
Playing range
F2–C4 or C4–C6

The flapamba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of tuned wooden bars pinched on one side over the node and mounted over resonator boxes. Sliding the bars slightly forward or backward affects their tuning. Unlike the marimba or xylophone, the sound is not as focused tonally. It is a bit more percussive, sounding closer to tuned log drums.[1]

History

The original flapamba was invented in the 1960s by Brent Seawell. Studio percussionist Emil Richards later bought the flapamba from the Professional Drum Shop in Hollywood and added it to his instrument collection. Richards started using it in recording sessions and let other studios rent it out, leading to its inclusion in several film scores. To play it, he used either soft mallets or his fingers to get a warm, resonant sound. This original flapamba had a range from middle C up two full octaves (from C4 to C6 in scientific pitch notation).[2]

In 2009, Richards decided to extend the lower range of the instrument. Specialty mallet craftsman Chris Banta made new bars spanning F2 to C4 and dubbed this the "bass flapamba". He also replaced the bars on the original set to create a consistent sound between the two. Both sets combined have a range from F2 to C6.[3]

Use

The flapamba can most often be heard in film music, such as on Michael Giacchino's soundtrack for Lost.[4] Composer Elmer Bernstein used it on the soundtrack for McQ.[5] The beginning of the Steely Dan track "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" features Victor Feldman playing the flapamba, although his contribution was cut from the single version.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ Strain, James Allen (2017). A Dictionary for the Modern Percussionist and Drummer. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-8108-8693-3. OCLC 974035735.
  2. ↑ Libin, Laurence (2015). "Flapamba". The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199743391.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-974339-1.
  3. ↑ Bornstein, Robert G. (2015). Range, Transposition and Tuning: A Guide for Over 500 Musical Instruments. Hal Leonard. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4950-5894-3. OCLC 1150842751.
  4. ↑ Ross, Alex (May 17, 2010). "The Spooky Fill: Onward and Upward with the Arts". The New Yorker. ProQuest 288242293.
  5. ↑ Spencer, Kristopher (2008). Film and Television Scores, 1950–1979: A Critical Survey by Genre. McFarland. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7864-5228-6.
  6. ↑ Millward, Stephen (2016). Fast Forward: Music and Politics in 1974. Troubador Publishing Limited. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-78589-158-8. OCLC 952160589.
  7. ↑ Levine, Dave (1979). "Victor Feldman: Up Close" (PDF). Modern Drummer. Vol. 3, no. 6. p. 42.
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