Description

Ocarina with tuning slide – CANELLA, Antonio

This extremely rare terracotta and brass ocarina was made in Ferrara, Italy by Antonio CANELLA (1861?-1952?). He was active making ocarinas from around 1878 to 1940. Ferrara is just 50 kilometres away from Budrio, where the ocarina ‘inventor’ Giuseppe Donati (1836-1925) started his work. Little is known about Antonio Canella and there are very few of his ocarinas to be seen on public display today. 

This ocarina features a tuning slide which makes it possible to alter the pitch. The function of this tuning slide is quite simple. The brass tube can be pushed in or pulled out of the body of the instrument. This alters the volume of air in the ocarina’s resonating chamber. So, if the tuning slide is pulled out, the internal volume is increased and the pitch is lowered. Tuning slides were added to make it possible for ocarinas to play in tune with other instruments.

This lovely, little instrument has 10 holes and plays C when all the holes are covered. It is in great condition for its age.