Acme siren

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An acme siren is a percussion instrument used in concert bands for comic effect. Often used in cartoons, it produces the stylized sound of a police siren.

The instrument is typically made of metal and is cylindrical. Inside the cylinder is a type of fan-blade which, when the performer blows through one end, spins and creates the sound. The faster the performer blows, the faster the fan-blade moves and the higher the pitch the instrument creates. Conversely, the slower the performer blows, the lower the pitch.

[edit] References

  • Acme Siren. Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
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