bout the Xaphoon

The Maui Xaphoon was created by Brian Lee Wittman. It is a single reed instrument with a cylindrical bore that flares slightly at the end. The Xaphoon is described as a pocket saxophone and is very portable. I believe that it is best characterized as a chalumeau with an extended range of two octaves. The standard Xaphoon is in C, and its lowest note is C. They also make a models in other keys, such as low G, and B flat. The original Xaphoon were made from Bamboo, and Mr. Wittman still produces Xaphoon from Bamboo. However, he now also produces Xaphoon from plastic. The Xaphoon is very useful for playing the cantus firmus lines of some Renaissance and Baroque works.

The plastic version of the instrument is made from ABS and is extremely inexpensive and durable. I believe that the instrument is well suited to two types of players, rank beginners, and advanced players. Intermediate players may have difficulty adjusting to the fingerings of the instrument. It has eight holes on the front of the instrument and one on the back.

I very much like the instrument. In fact, I would say that its fingering system is its only downside. However, that is the price of being able to produce a fully chromatic two octave scale without the use of any keys.