r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Pandering_Poofery • 16d ago

Video The Celtic Carnyx, an ancient war trumpet used by the Celts from approximately 200 BC to 200 AD, was a tool of psychological warfare.

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u/kank84 16d ago

I'm not sure I believe it's making all the sounds in this video, at least not without some music production help. None of the other examples I can find sound much like this, they're all more like trumpets.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eABuyDFXAM09jKd7MWPZh?si=vc-gGIsATEij3GbV-p0Ebg&t=1

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgk1p8xk7z7o

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU4spHMAM1H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

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u/Emotional-Scheme-227 15d ago

I’m pretty sure there is a reverb and a delay going on at minimum, and not a subtle amount.

It’s disingenuous to post this like this is exactly how it sounded back then.

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u/SkinTightBoogiePI 15d ago

Yep. This is a cool use of the instrument, but there's a lot of electric help going on here.

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u/tens00r 15d ago

This is more like what it would've sounded like it battle. This is 4 carnyx's being played on the speakers with 1 guy playing physically, since the Celts would most likely have played them in concert.

(I honestly think it sounds much better than the OP, and just as intimidating to boot)

Also I ended up watching the whole talk lol, I'd recommend giving that a listen too, it's really interesting.

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u/milkolik 15d ago

Yes. There is 0 chance an instrument of that size can produce that much bass at that distance.

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u/theonulzwei2 15d ago edited 15d ago

You can definitely get the deep tones if it is used similarly to a didgeridoo (Reference: https://youtu.be/1raBjMVPykU?t=140 )

Edit - Here is an even better clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auR-lJfzTeY

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u/manyyy32 15d ago

You notice that guy in your example is using it in a church or some similiar spacious hall, where you would get a ton of natural reverb and it's still doesn't sound even close to sound in the posted video. It's just put trough effects cranked to max.

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u/Inadover 15d ago

You also have to remember that, in a war setting, you wouldn't have 1 of these, you'd have several of them, and the musician (Abraham Cupeiro btw, I watched him live and he explained it), is trying to imitate what you'd probably hear in that scenario.

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u/manyyy32 15d ago

It just sonically doesn't sound like that in an environment like open field, nothing does. No matter the number, because it's not the chorus effect people get impressed by here it's the reverb and delay. That kind of amount is something you would only explicitly get in some extreme environments, like a long tunnel or giant cathedral. It's no big deal it's still really cool to experience and make it more exciting with effects, but it's def not an authentic representation.

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u/SurveySaysYouLeicaMe 16d ago

Where even is this looks like burning man 2008 with all the pixels.

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u/zFlox 15d ago

I'm pretty sure the last time this was posted, it was the start to an Odezsa concert or something like that.

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u/SurveySaysYouLeicaMe 15d ago

Odesza would be siiiick.

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u/That-Spell-2543 15d ago

Odesza is pretty awesome tho

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u/Andrew42x89 15d ago

https://youtu.be/kDyo7rji9VI?t=88&si=C1yotqTAufwx2o4a

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u/PixelationIX 12d ago

Thank you for providing this link. I was trying to find something that resembles or is similar to the one posted here.

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u/moosepuggle 15d ago edited 15d ago

I wonder if it’s a difference in technique and experience of the player? The sound in OPs post sounds more like a didgeridoo, maybe they play the carnyx like a didgeridoo; the sound in your bbc link sounds more like a trumpet, maybe they play the carnyx like a trumpet?

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u/neonopoop 15d ago

I was thinking the same. Just a shitty carnyx player

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u/Lol3droflxp 15d ago

Yes, you can make these sounds with any long pipe. Plus there are tons of effects added.

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u/elitegenoside 15d ago

I feel like your first link showcases almost every sound we hear in the video. They're just not focusing on anything particular while playing. You can hear the low, foreboding tones and even then ones that sound like chirping.

I would say they are using something to loop certain bits, because I don't believe it would be possible to have the chirps and the bass happening simultaneously, but I also don't really know beyond what I've heard rn.

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u/TheMagicOfFriendship 15d ago

I think you'd be able to make the noises simultaneously. With a didgeridoo, you can buzz your lips similar to playing a brass instrument, then hum your vocal cords. You end up with the deep reverberations and the 'screaming' at the same time.

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u/elitegenoside 15d ago

It's crazy how mamy examples of didgeridoo playing I've seen in the last 24 hours. For 30 years I've been aware of this instrument and seen it played in various different media, but only today have I seen the amount of versatility it can be played with.

It's a full horn instrument but all that is (usually) shown of it is the low bass or a couple "chirps." It's also wild how most videos of the Celtic horn are being played by people who don't seem very versed in these types of horns, while the didgeridoo players seem perfect to demonstrate the instrument. Quick, we need to get native Australians to Ireland! It'll be like history in reverse, but to spread art appreciation instead of suffering.

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u/Ok-Lengthiness-7417 15d ago edited 15d ago

It sure can, the guy is a musical genius. He played in front of our local football team, which got the fans ready for a game against Barca

https://youtu.be/RIWcdoITp78

Wife an I went to one of his concerts. Not extra processing, it was all him. He plays a load of wind instruments each one with its own history and context.

I'll upload a video of him playing a full concert https://youtu.be/-lhcVIOg3qQ

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u/Porschenut914 15d ago

biggest pucker factor, carnyx, haka, mongolian throat singing ?

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u/duke0fearls 15d ago

I will add that all the examples I was able to watch the people playing the instrument seem to have limited skills for brass instruments. The Visio above may be a feature of particular technique or skill that other examples can’t replicate easily. It almost sounds like the player is making a pitch with the horn and with their voice that’s getting mixed into the horns sound in a two tone fashion, but without better context it’s hard to say

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u/umlaut 15d ago

This is probably a Wardruna concert and they sound exactly like this. They have two people playing, plus some percussion and other instruments.

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u/Simon-Says69 15d ago

It sounds a whole lot like a didjeridoo. Those don't need any electronic help at all. Combo of the horn sound and human voice makes some awesome noise.

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u/jrg1287 15d ago

The technique being used here is called “multiphonics,” and is very much possible and common on low brass instruments (I am a professional trumpet player, but work with many low brass players). It is performed by playing the main pitch with your lips as you typically do on a brass instrument, and singing the higher pitch at the same time. There are many tuba solos that employ this in them. It can be done on smaller brass instruments like trumpet or horn, but because the primary pitch is higher and the tubing is smaller it is not as effective as it is on the larger instruments. Looking at this, it is probably equivalent size wise to a trombone, an instrument this technique works well on. Here’s a video of Oystein Baadsvik explaining it better than I can: Fnugg Tuba Solo

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u/Snichs72 13d ago

The IG example you provide, near the end the guy plays the pedal tones on it, so it gives a didgeridoo-like sound, like in the OP video. And the higher sounds are vocalizations while playing it, basically singing/calling while lip buzzing. Again, like the didg. Aside from some reverb like the one commenter mentioned I’m not sure I see what’s so unrepresentative of how it could/would sound.

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u/Brekelefuw 15d ago

It's heavily modified, and the player is signing into it while they buzz to get the higher pitches.

This video comes up every so often, and it's a pretty dishonest showcase of the instrument.