Mirliton

Mirliton (Fr.), an instrumental auxiliary rather than a musical instr., the mirliton is a membranophone that modifies the sound of a voice or of an instr. This is accomplished by directing the voice against its membrane, and thereby setting it in vibration, or by holding the membrane against the throat, or by directing the vibrating air column from a sounded instr. against it. In each case the membrane's vibrations amplify and color the tone with a buzzing nasal timbre. The membrane may be free…