Music of the Spheres Wind Chime-Mezzo Soprano
Music of the Spheres Mezzo Soprano Chime
Music of the Spheres The Stradivarius of Windchimes
Music of the Spheres Wind Chime-Mezzo Soprano:
Our most recent addition, this chime has a bright, pure sound.
Mezzo Soprano Specifications:
| Size/Pitch |
Overall
Length |
Longest Tube |
Weight
(lbs) |
Tube O.D. |
| Mezzo-Soprano |
40" |
21" |
5 |
1 3/16" |
Click Adjustment Wind Chimes (left) to purchase:
Music of the Spheres Wind Chime-Mezzo Soprano is available in 10 chime tunings/scales.
Name of Tunings/
Scales |
Description of the Tunings(Scales). |
Clic music tone to listen |
| 1. Pentatonic Mezzo-Soprano |
One of our most popular tunings, the major Pentatonic scale is the most widely used melodic scale in the world, dating from ancient Greece. Its pattern is familiar as the black notes of the piano keyboard. The chime contains all the notes to "Amazing Grace" as well as "The Eyes of Texas". It blends best with the Hawaiian. |
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| 2. Quartal Mezzo-Soprano |
A musical palindrome, the Quartal scale is based on intervals of fourths and fifths. Its smooth and serene sound captivated American composers, notably Aaron Copland and Paul Hindemith, in the early twentieth century. |
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| 3. Chinese Mezzo-Soprano |
The Chinese, an inversion of the Pentatonic, is the lightest and sweetest of our scales, sure to evoke a sense of happiness. Its sweetness best complements the more serious Japanese and Balinese. |
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| 4. Mongolian Mezzo-Soprano |
The Mongolian scale, a livelier version of the Chinese, is reminiscent of church and temple bells. The major pentatonic scale in root position in the key of A, it harmonizes nicely with the Aquarian. Genghis Khan conquered an empire unmatched in size, yet never heard chimes as lovely as these. |
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| 5. Aquarian Mezzo-Soprano |
An original Larry Roark composition, The Aquarian mirrors the tranquil charm of an Alpine lake or stream. Its refreshing tones mix beautifully in different sizes and also blend with the Mongolian. |
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6. Gypsy Mezzo-Soprano
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The ancient Gypsy scale is still used widely from northern Africa to the Baltic region. Its exotic mix of piquant strains and haunting melodies blends well with the Japanese. |
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| 7. Hawaiian Mezzo-Soprano |
The Hawaiian scale is Polynesian in flavor, reminiscent of a tangy sweet & sour sauce and tropical island breezes. It combines the best of major and minor pentatonic scales. Mix Hawaiian with Pentatonic for a lovely multi-cultural effect.
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| 8. Balinese Mezzo-Soprano |
The Balinese scale recreates the magical strains of the Indonesian gamelon, at once joyous and plaintive. Balinese blends harmoniously with Chinese or Japanese. |
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| 9. Japanese Mezzo-Soprano |
The distinctive tones of the Japanese scale are at once deeply soothing and provocative. Its drama complements the more light-hearted Chinese and Balinese.
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10.
Whole Tone Mezzo-Soprano |
Claude Debussy, inspired by Balinese music at the 1896 Paris Exposition, began composing with this atonal scale, used for example in his piece "La Mer". Later, television's original Star Trek used it in the "beaming up" sequences. TV and film scores frequently feature it for underwater scenes, dream and "flashback" sequences. |
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Music of the Spheres Wind Chime
Materials & Construction:
High quality materials, exacting tolerances and methodical assembly protocols ensure lasting quality and beauty.
* Tough synthetic cordage is highly resistant to abrasion, ultra-violet degradation, rot and mildew. Central tube suspension with smoothly polished tube ends prevent cord abrasion typical of other, less labor-intensive suspension techniques.
* Heavy gauge polished stainless steel rings provide sturdy support and enduring beauty.
* Tempered aluminum alloy tubing is custom manufactured to our exacting specifications and will never rust.
* Our corrosion-protective finish preserves chime's appearance and increases durability in hostile environments (acid rain, salt air).
* We cut and precisely tune each tube by hand using just intonation, except for the whole tone scale, which uses equal temperment.
* Tubes are tuned to A440, standard orchestral pitch, using the latest in technology.
* Solid polyethylene clappers provide superior tonal quality and outdoor durability.
* The windcatcher, of the same finish and material as the tubes, is the ideal size, weight, and shape for optimal chime performance in 8 - 10 mph wind velocity. The corrosion protective finish provides durability in all
kinds of outdoor environments (acid rain, salt air, etc.)
* The windcatcher hook assembly provides simple but effective method of varying the chime's activity level.
* The clapper slides on the central cord up into the ring creating a convenient "off-on" feature.
* Windcatchers can also be easily removed to subdue chime activity under blustery conditions.
* A rigorous final inspection ensures that your chime is up to our high standards of acoustic and visual quality.
Music of the Spheres Wind Chime
Hand-crafted, Symphonic Quality Chimes
Satisfaction Guaranteed!-- 30 day unconditional return policy:
- Six sizes spanning four octaves
- Ten musical scales, plus the unique Westminster
- The amazing, 14' Basso Profundo wind chime
- Standard orchestral pitch (A 440)
- Custom tunings available
- Black, powder-coated, aluminum alloy tubing
- Adjustable activity control
- Durability also guaranteed:
- 7 years outdoors for Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano and Alto
-15 years outdoors for Tenor and Bass
-15 years outdoors Basso Profundo
Music of the Spheres Wind Chime
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I don't understand the difference between "sizes/voices" and "tunings"?
A: Use this analogy to buying a shirt: you could think of tuning as the color and pitch range as the size. You can get a shirt in pink, blue and yellow; and you can also choose small, medium and large. You may also think of our tunings as songs. Each of them is available in various pitch ranges (sizes). A musical instrument must be made larger to create lower pitches (For example, a higher pitched violin is smaller than its cousin, the lower pitched cello. Each can play the same melody, but in different pitch ranges.) Please find the "Hear Our Chimes" section below to hear the different tunings in the different pitch ranges.
"Hear Our Chimes":
CHIME SIZES
Our Chimes come in several sizes, which is the same as saying pitch ranges.
The larger chimes have a lower pitch and smaller chimes have a higher pitch.
We have designed our chime sizes so that their pitch ranges overlap and complement each other.
Select one of the pitch ranges shown on the musical staff or one of the chimes in the image below for more information about that size.
Q: Can I hang my Music of the Spheres windchimes outside?
A: Yes, they are designed for lasting outdoor durability. Please refer to our "Materials & Construction" section above for descriptions of our durable materials and method of construction. If you want to appreciate the beauty and ambience of your Music of the Spheres windchime indoors you can "power" the chime with an oscillating fan or a pull cord. Children have also been taught to gently "play" the chime for their parents. One customer even positioned the windcatcher in the path of the cat door!
Q: Are my Music of the Spheres windchimes covered by a warranty?
A: Yes, our Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto and Westminster chimes are warranted for 7 years from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship. Tenor, Bass and Basso Profundo chimes are similarly warranted for 15 years.
Q: What are the specifications for your windchimes?
A: Please refer to the specification chart below for this information.
Specifications Chart
| Size/Pitch |
Overall
Length |
Longest
Tube |
Weight
(lbs) |
Tube O.D. |
| Soprano |
30" |
15" |
2 |
7/8" |
| Mezzo |
40" |
21" |
5 |
1 3/16" |
| Alto |
50" |
28" |
10 |
1 1/2" |
| Tenor |
60" |
39" |
27 |
2" |
| Bass |
90" |
51" |
44 |
2 1/2" |
| Bass Profundo |
168" |
104" |
~200 |
5" |
| Westminster |
90" |
64" |
15 |
1 1/2" |
Q: Can I get my chimes repaired if they should be damaged?
A: Yes, please call or email for a return or repair authorization. If a repair is covered by warranty, there will be no charge. If not, a $25 charge plus the cost of any additional components and return freight will apply. If you have a non-Music of the Spheres chime and would like it repaired, the policy is the same as for a non-warranted chimes.
Q: How can I increase (or decrease) the activity of my Music of the Spheres windchime?
A: 1. Hang the chime in a different location, either more or less exposed to wind.
2. Hang the chime from the first knot above the ring for greater activity and from the second knot for lower activity.
3. Adjust the size of the windcatcher. To identify your windcatcher you may refer to the diagram on the "Materials & Construction" above. The wind catcher at the bottom of your chime is the "motor" that makes it work. Windcatchers harness the power of the wind and transfer it to the clapper, which moves to strike the tubes and play the music. The larger the windcatcher surface area for any given size chime, the less wind is needed to activate it. We design our chimes to play in eight to ten mile-per-hour breezes. If your chimes hang in an extraordinarily enclosed or exposed area, they will require a correspondingly larger or smaller wind catcher than the standard one, to achieve a "standard" activity level. If you feel you need a different size windcatcher, return yours, asking for either the next size up or down and we will send a replacement at no charge.
Q: How should I hang my chime?
A: 1. Hang the chime in a different location, either more or less exposed to wind.
2. Hang the chime from the first knot above the ring for greater activity and from the second knot for lower activity.
3. Adjust the size of the windcatcher. To identify your windcatcher you may refer to the diagram on the above.
The wind catcher at the bottom of your chime is the "motor" that makes it work. Windcatchers harness the power of the wind and transfer it to the clapper, which moves to strike the tubes and play the music. The larger the windcatcher surface area for any given size chime, the less wind is needed to activate it. We design our chimes to play in eight to ten mile-per-hour breezes. If your chimes hang in an extraordinarily enclosed or exposed area, they will require a correspondingly larger or smaller wind catcher than the standard one, to achieve a "standard" activity level. If you feel you need a different size windcatcher, return yours, asking for either the next size up or down and we will send a replacement at no charge.
A: There are a number of safe ways to hang your chime. The "best" for a particular circumstance will depend on which chime size you're hanging and where it is you would like it to hang. In all cases, simply using some basic common sense is a great start. In many cases, hanging a chime "properly" is not a complicated matter. Some chime hanging basics are:
* Don't hang your chime on anything that is sharp or abrasive. Over time the cord will be cut or worn and will eventually break. For instance, instead of hanging the chime from an old rusty nail, take the time to get a carabiner or some other sort of metal ring. Hang the chime from the ring, then hang the ring from the nail.
* Do consider the fact that the forces on the chime support will vary and will increase substantially during severe weather conditions. When planning the support for your chime, take the time to "do it right" by preparing for stormy conditions.
* Do test the installation by giving a "tug" on the chime after hanging it to make sure it stays put. For the smaller chimes, a gentle downward pull will suffice; whereas for the larger, heavier chimes, a good solid downward test pull is a good idea. A good rule of thumb is to test the installation with a force that is between two and three times the weight of the chime.
* Do be considerate of your tree. When hanging chimes from a tree limb, use a blanket or a piece of rubber to spread out the load on the limb. This will avoid cutting into the bark and damaging the tree. A section of an old bicycle tire works very well for this purpose.
* Do use a deck hook as a safe and convenient way to hang the chimes from a deck railing.
* Do use a wall bracket to hang the chime from a wall. If mounting the bracket on a brick, stone or masonry wall, use the proper inserts for the job.
* Do be creative and consider as many options as you can think of when trying to hang a chime. When in doubt, feel free to contact us for advice.
Music of the Spheres ® , Inc. Company History:
1989 - Music of the Spheres ® , Inc. opens in Larry's garage with a few hand tools and some galvanized steel tubing. His earliest chimes had wooden clappers and home-oven cooked wind-catchers.
1991 - The need for more space motivated Larry to rent a shop on St. Elmo Ave in S. Austin, Texas. The budding company had only 5 employees during most of this period and about 100 chimes were built per week. The "shipping department" at St. Elmo was a friend of Larry's who would carry the completed chimes to the Post Office in the trunk of her car when enough orders were ready.
1995 - The continued need for more space motivated the move to Industrial Blvd, also in S. Austin, Texas. The new shop was twice as big as the old one and it finally had an air-conditioned cutting room. The growth of the business really took off during this period.
1998 - The shop moves to its current location on East Cesar Chavez with about 16 employees and what seemed at the time to be more space than we could ever use. Our current location has two large buildings and a smaller business office. One building is wholly devoted to warehousing pipe stock. The other one has separate rooms for cutting, end finishing and tuning, drilling, assembly and inspection, as well as shipping and storage of additional components.
2000 to 2002 - The Music of the Spheres ® , Inc. team has grown to around 40 with everyone pulling together to meet production demands during a tough period following the loss of our owner and founder, Larry Roark in
March of 2001. Business-wise, our chimes continue to be hand-made with the same attention to quality and detail, and sales have never been stronger. During this period many business advances, such as a new website, an in-house computer network, a new accounting program, a new fax system, and new machines to build and tune our chimes, have been put in place. All of these projects are aimed at enhancing our ability to make superior chimes and provide first-class customer service, both now and in the years to come.
2003 - The business continues to grow both in sales and in square footage. Taking advantage of a rather fortunate vacancy next door we have been able to relocate and increase the size of our accounting offices and also reorganize a substantial portion of our warehouse and shipping space. These moves were planned so as to make room for an expansion of our production area in the original building later this year. A number of web projects are also underway which are aimed at increasing customer satisfaction (for both wholesale and retail customers) as well as helping our reps at shows and on the road. On the production floor we have setup new systems and procedure to increase production capacity while at the same time ensuring quality. We continue to be mindful that the core of our business is the great care we take to make our chimes look and sound their best.
Music of the Spheres ® , Inc. Our Founder:
Larry Roark
May 15, 1955 - March 6, 2001
Our founder, Larry Roark died tragically in a car accident on March 6, 2001. He had graduated from North Texas State University cum laude with a degree in music theory in 1978, and also performed graduate work. After college he served on the staff of the Texas Women's University performing stage lighting and then played the euphonium with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus Band for several seasons. A consummate musician, Larry played with many other groups including the Austin Symphony, the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, the Austin Klezmorim, the Vascilating Discombubulators, and the First Baptist Church voice and handbell choirs. Larry also served as a host of Austin Texas' KUT, Austin Texas' NPR affiliate, Radio's Overnight show for several years and then continued thereafter to guest host. Please see KUT Radio's tribute for more information on Larry's years on the air.
Larry was a truly kind and gentle man with a passion for beauty and spirituality which he expressed through music and art photography. At Music of the Spheres ® , Inc., Larry's vision was simply to make the most durable chimes of the highest acoustic quality possible; "the Stadivarius of windchimes". The tremendous outpouring of letters of appreciation, demand and intense customer loyalty over the years confirms Larry's achievement. Through his many years of working shows, fairs and festivals he felt his customer's appreciation directly. He worked to please his customers and himself. His vision of "world peace - one backyard at a time" was genuine and heartfelt.
Music of the Spheres Testimonials:
" We have lived in Texas, Japan, and now Bahrain, in the Middle East. One thing in common about each place is that everyone who has heard the chimes loves them, compliments them, and wants them. " - Bahrain (February 2002)
" I love chimes and look for 'good ones' when I travel... These are the best by far - the BMW of windchimes." - Ashland City, IN (October 2002)
" I must write and tell you how much I enjoy the chimes! On Sept. 16, 2002 I received a cochlear implant. On Oct. 16, 2002 the implant was activated and after more than 50 years of poor hearing, I could hear again! My daughter bought the chimes for me a few days later and Oh! They are music to my ears! Such beautiful sounds come from them. If there is not enough wind to make them chime, I gently swing them so that I can hear them. I'm sure that I must appreciate hearing them more than people with "normal" hearing do. Thank you for making such a beautiful windchime." - OK (November 2002)
" As an afficionado of windchimes I was impressed when I first came across one of your windchimes in a small store in the state of Washington. Over a year later I treated myself to one of your Alto chimes and it is truly a wonderful instrument! I am surprised at how hollow my other chimes sound when compared with yours. I intend to augment my collection with another one of your chimes when the economy recovers a bit. Until then I will make sure your chime is placed in a location befitting its quality! Thanks for making such a quality product. " - California (December 2002)
"I have had chimes, I have seen many. I have never seen or heard any such as these." - Cordova, TN (December 2002)
"Your chimes soothe my soul - I purchased a smaller set and then came across the 'big guy'. Had to have them." - Elmhurst, IL (November 2002)
"I must tell you that the chimes have immensely blessed our home. My wife calls their song "pure music". They play a new tune for each listener only at that particular moment in time, and only once." - Vaiden, MS (November 2002)
"As a professional musician I especially appreciate the combinations of tunings and the care taken in the precision tuning." - San Jose, CA (October 2002)
"I have had many chimes in my life but none as beautifully crafted or melodic as this set..." - St. Joseph, MO (December 2002)
"The quality and workmanship is excellent as is the superb tone. It is gratifying to get quality value for the dollars spent." - Kailua'Kona, HI (September 2002)
"I have a medium chime - I've never seen anything or heard anything more beautiful. Our famliy bought four chimes this year for gifts!" - Crosevelle, TN (December 2002)
"I adore my tenor chimes. They are absolutely fabulous! Thanks for making such a beautiful product." - Austin, TX (December 2002)
"We put it (the chime) in the barn and the horses seem to enjoy it." - Alpine, CA (July 2002)
