Monkey stick

Monkey stick
This article is about a musical instrument -- for other uses see Mendoza (disambiguation).

The mendoza, mendozer, monkey stick or lagerphone, is a traditional English percussion instrument, widely used in folk music. The origins of the name are not known but it is believed to stem from an association with one of the many Gypsy, Spanish and Italian buskers who were popular in London in the Victorian era.

This instrument is constructed from a stout pole affixed to a heavy boot at the base. Metal "jingles", commonly beer-bottle tops, are fastened at intervals along the shaft. When played on a wooden floor (common in ale-houses) the sound produced is a combination of a bass drum and tambourine. It can also be played with an additional small notched or serrated stick held in the other hand, allowing it to not only be shaken or hammered onto the ground, but also "bowed" to produce a combined clicking and rattling sound.

The name "monkey stick" comes from a modern practice: in homage to the trained monkeys formerly used by buskers to solicit money from passers-by, a number of musicians have taken to fixing a small stuffed toy monkey to the tops of their instruments.

In Australia, this instrument constructed with beer-bottle tops is known as a lagerphone, a variation of the traditional aboriginal instrument using shells. The same name and construction is found in New Zealand.

In Newfoundland, it is referred to as an "ugly stick." In the Dutch province Friesland this type of instrument is known as a 'kuttepiel'. In the American upper-midwestern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the closely related stumpf fiddle or pogocello originated in Czech communities and adds small cymbals, strings, and a drum.

The variation of this instrument called the ‘Zob Stick’ was constructed and named in 1968 by percussionist and songwriter Keef Trouble of the band Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts and Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs. It is now, with the term ‘Lagerphone,’ the most commonly used name for this instrument. The Brett Marvin invented term ‘Zob’ was taken from an old risqué UK naval term that has the same meaning in French. The Keef Trouble ‘Zob Stick’ is distinguished by the addition of a sprung-boot attached to the bottom of the pole and a metal sleeve round its centre, this being hit with a serrated wooden stick.

Contemporary bands, such as Groanbox and Zapoppin', have also incorporated the Monkey stick into their recordings and live shows.

External links

  • [1] The Lagerphone Pages by Keith Sayers (Canberra March 2010)

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Monkey Kung Fu — Also known as Hou Quan, Da Sheng Men, Monkey Boxing, Monkey Fist, Tai Shing Pek Kwar Country of origin China Creator Kou Si (Kou Sze), (Kau Sei) 寇四 …   Wikipedia

  • Monkey Wrench (song) — Monkey Wrench Single by Foo Fighters from the album The Colour and the Shape Released April 28, 1997 …   Wikipedia

  • Monkey Wrench — Single par Foo Fighters extrait de l’album The Colour and the Shape Sortie 28 avril 1997 Enregistrement 1997 Grandmaster Recorders, Hollywood, Californie Durée 3:51 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Stick McGhee — Stick McGhee, auch Sticks McGhee (* 23. März 1917 in Knoxville (Tennessee) als Granville Henry McGhee; † 15. August 1961 in der Bronx, New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Blues und Rhythm and Blues Gitarrist und Sänger. Er war der jüngere… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Monkey and banana problem — The monkey and banana problem is a famous toy problem in artificial intelligence, particularly in logic programming and planning. Contents 1 Formulation of the problem 2 Purpose of the problem 3 References …   Wikipedia

  • Monkey-baiting — The Westminster Pit: A Turn up between a Dog and Jacco Macacco, the Fighting Monkey by Samuel Alken Illustration, circa early 1800s Monkey baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of monkeys. Contents …   Wikipedia

  • Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! — Infobox Book name = Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain!: Cartoonist Ignores Helpful Advice title orig = translator = image caption = author = Scott Adams cover artist = country = USA language = English series = subject = genre = publisher =… …   Wikipedia

  • Stick McGhee — Granville Stick Henely McGhee (March 23 1917 – August 15 1961) was an American guitarist (Brownie McGhee s younger brother) best known for his blues song Drinkin Wine, Spo Dee O Dee , one of the earliest prototypical rock and roll songs, which… …   Wikipedia

  • Super Monkey Ball Adventure — Infobox VG title = caption = developer = Traveller s Tales publisher = Sega designer = engine = released = PlayStation 2 vgrelease|PAL=June 30, 2006|NA=August 1, 2006PlayStation Portable vgrelease|PAL=June 30, 2006|NA=August 29, 2006GameCube… …   Wikipedia

  • Tales of Monkey Island — Tales of Monkey Island …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”