Quirky Music Stuff
The world of music is full of weird and wonderful instruments, composers, performers, techniques, notations, sounds...it can be a strange and curious place to inhabit. On this page we gather together quirky and unusual material from our collections and offer some websites to pique your interest.
From our collection
Books
How to play the gumleaf by Herb Patten.
Not your average orchestral instrument but have a read and see whether it satisfies your desire to make music.
Incredibly strange music
A guide to little known vinyl recordings such as Muhammed Ali fights tooth decay. Check out some of the album covers.
Songs for swinging golfers
Just the words, but who could resist a little warble of My bonnie is stuck in that bunker when out on the 18th with your partner.
Stairway to heaven: the final resting places of rock's legends
A photographic record of where the fans go to pay homage to their idols
Scores for loan
The drover's dog
Using Sullivan's music, this song parodies one of Western Australia's most famous sons, Bob Hawke, and his term as Prime Minister. Take it home and have a sing-song around the piano.
Duetto buffo di due gatti
Audition your cat for a performance of this quaint little work by Rossini.
Erotica variations (S.36EE): for banned instruments and piano
Scored for windbreaker, balloons, slide whistle, slide windbreaker, lasso d'amore, foghorn, bell, kazoo and piano. If you can assemble virtuosi on these instruments, you've got yourself a winner.
Fowl language: an opera for singing chickens and a six-pack of wolves
The performance notes for this piece state that "Extensive biographical research has revealed no interesting facts you should know about this composer."
How to play nearly everything from bones and spoons to the washtub bass
Get out your bones, have a dose of calcium and play them
From the internet
Australian music quizzes
Loads of quizzes to keep you amused
The Dead Musician's Directory
"A site about dead musicians and how they got that way".
Kick Ass Classical
Famous, popular and best classical music. Identify that piece you heard on that ad last night. What's that beautiful duet sung by two women? Ask the question - you'll find the answer.
The Odd Music Gallery
The oddest assortment of musical instruments gathered together in one place - the serpent, the fluba, the uncello, Optivideotone etc!
Ophicleide.com
Interesting look at an unusual brass instrument.
The universe of bagpipes
For all those "enchanted" by this wonderful wind instrument.
Page last updated: Wednesday 20 April 2011
