GoKawiilMy Flute Goes To War
by Howard Fosdick
During the Second World War, America was united as it never has been since. Everyone had family and friends in the armed forces. Rationing of everyday items like sugar, coffee, fuel, and rubber was wholeheartedly (if often grudgingly) accepted as necessary to the war effort. Scrap drives continually collected metal, paper, rubber, and rags. Blackouts made driving risky at night.
Embued with this spirit, the US government was determined to do everything it could for “the troops.” Right down to and including their entertainment.
We're all familiar with the USO, but did you know that the government also shipped thousands of flutes to the soldiers?
Selecting the Instrument
To help “our boys” entertain themselves, the Army needed a small, portable instrument. One that was durable and that could tolerate getting wet. It had to be inexpensive to produce. And above all, it had to be very simple to play. (Or to learn, if need be.)
To meet these requirements, the US government selected the plastic ocarina.
As you may know, the ocarina is a vessel flute — a flute in which air resonates inside an enclosed chamber. This is what gives the instrument its uniquely recognizable sound. (The design differs from that of a pipe flute, in which air vibrates through a tube.)
The ocarina's mouthpiece functions like that of a recorder. It automatically directs the player's breath to the sharp edge, or labium, that splits it to create sound waves.
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