A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ocarina

OCARINA. A family of small terra-cotta instruments, in character somewhat resembling flageolets, made of various sizes, and introduced into this country some years ago by a travelling troupe of German or Tyrolese musicians. The fingering is something intermediate between the instrument named above and that of the 'picco' pipe. The only point of acoustical importance they illustrate is due to their large internal cavity, and the absence of any bell. They have in consequence a hollow, rather sweet tone, similar to that of a stopped organ pipe. They are of no musical significance whatever.

[ W. H. S. ]