Couesnophon
The Couesnophon (the “s” in the middle of the word is not spoken), also called Couénophone , Queenophone or Goofus , is a saxophone- like musical instrument. It was invented in 1924 and flourished briefly in the years that followed. In French patent 569294 from Couesnon & Cie. (Founded in 1882 by Amedée Auguste Couesnon) it was described as a toy saxophone ( saxophone jouet ). The jazz musician Adrian Rollini (1903–1956) played it in particular .
The Couénophone combines the mouthpiece of a wind instrument (with reed wind ) and the mechanics of a button accordion (also in tone similar to the later melodica of Hohner ). It has two parallel rows of keys: whole tones front right (right hand) and half tones front left (left hand). It is played with a blow hose, on the one hand because of the better handling, on the other hand because of the resulting condensation.
Web links
- Couesnophone or “Goofus” by Pat Missin (in English)
- The Goofus by Albert Haim , with photos (in English)
- Current website of the PGM Couesnon company