The idea is simple: an organ with a rank (or more) of kazoo pipes. This could be in addition to a full complement of other voices, providing an interesting solo voice, or as an independant instrument.
Of course, any kazoo player worth his salt will tell you that you can't get a sound out of a kazoo by just blowing through it. This is because a kazoo operates by sympathetic vibrations of a wax paper resonator with your voice, which gives it its characteristic quality. The organ pipe could therefore not consist merely of a kazoo, but would have to have an initial resonator. (In a sense this is similar to the function the lips of a flute pipe perform -- they provide the initial vibrations in the air which are supported harmonically by the length of the pipe.) This resonator might be a reed or flute, but it may be possible to have a resonator more similar to the human larynx, consisting of flexible mebranes.
Because of the way a kazoo produces its sound, it might not be necessary for the pipes' lengths to correspond exactly to their intended fundamental harmonic, which is usually necessary in organ pipes since the sound is produced by the vibrations in the air column. Clearly some experimentation will be required to achieve the desired results. It would be possible to have a whole range of effects, mimicing the versitility of the kazoo.
If there is a lingering doubt in your mind as to the merit of such an instrument, just think of what works such great composers as J. S. Bach might have been inspired to create, had their organs a kazoo stop.-- Thod, May 25 2004 Kazoos, Kazoos, Kazoos, Kazoos http://www.kazoos.com/index.htmA wide variety of kazoos available here [Thod, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] I'm Sorry, I Haven't A Clue http://www.bbc.co.u...4/comedy/clue.shtml"Swannee Kazoo" is one of their popular games [Thod, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] This idea is just so wrong. +-- scad mientist, May 25 2004 Despite the fact that I enjoy most organ music, I fear that I must vote Aye.-- angel, May 25 2004 You could have little choir boys under the organ humming away. (I can't believe I just said that!) Anyways, the starter resonator is a bit of a prob, but the concept of a gargantuan kazzorgan is tantalizing. +-- k_sra, May 25 2004 I like. Now awaiting the "Swannee Whistle Organ".-- lostdog, May 25 2004 + for any idea involving kazoos-- normzone, May 25 2004 Phantom of the opera will never be the same.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 25 2004 kazoo? que que? was ist das?-- Pericles, May 25 2004 [Pericles] -- A kazoo is a small musical instrument which effectively consists of a tube with a membrane attached which vibrates as the player hums or speaks in one end, producing a rather nazal sound.
When I was a child, we had a couple of plastic kazoos, which I'm sure were used to test the tolerance levels of grown-ups. See the link for more information, or if you would like to buy a kazoo.-- Thod, May 25 2004 Oh, ok. I get it Thod. thanks for explaining. "Kazoo" is a rather nice sounding word... for someone like me who wasn't born in an english-speaking context, at least. Still, for long, tube-like instruments, I'll stick to the didjeridoo ;)-- Pericles, May 25 2004 Nice link, Thod. My train of thought exactly.-- lostdog, May 25 2004 Yes!!!-- DesertFox, Aug 31 2005 The summary is the best couple of near-sentences ever written in any language.-- Laimak, Sep 01 2005 I am very tempted to sample my kazoo and use it to play back the Toccata and Fugue in D minor. I will post it if I ever get around to it.-- wagster, Sep 01 2005 Obviously I didn't.-- wagster, Mar 09 2006 What you obviously need is a modification were a series of stop buttons are tied to a kazoo add-on for every single pipe in the organ.-- MechE, Oct 16 2012 //Clearly some experimentation will be required to achieve the desired results.//
Clearly, some _eradication_ will be required to achieve the desired results.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 16 2012 random, halfbakery