World's
Largest Musical
Instrument Ensemble
or
Largest Wobble Board Ensemble
Salt
Lake Tribune newspaper article (November 12, 2007)
Deseret
Morning News newspaper article (November 17, 2007)
FOX13
Channel 13 Television news report (November 9, 2007)
ABC4
Channel 4 Television news report (November 10, 2007)
On Friday, November 9, 2007, 487 students,
teachers and adults at Eisenhower Junior High School in
Taylorsville, Utah, broke the Guinness World Record
for the World's Largest Musical Instrument Ensemble (for
Unconventional Instruments). Guinness also calls
this record the World's Largest Wobble Board Ensemble. Eisenhower's
487 participants played the Wobble Boards (by propping them
between the palms of their hands and bouncing them back
and forth) for five-minutes sixteen-seconds to the song
of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.
According to Guinness, the previous
world record for the World's Largest Musical Instrument
Ensemble (for Unconventional Instruments) was held by 359
employees of AIRMILES of Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom,
who successfully played their Wobble Boards for five minutes
to the song of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, on July
12, 2007. Wobble Boards are made of 2-foot by 3-foot hardboards--such
as Masonite boards--that are played by "propping them
between the palms of the hands and bouncing them back and
forth". The first Wobble Boards were created by Rolf
Harris in 1957. In 1960, Harris included the wobble sound
in his international hit song Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.
Guinness World Records lists six rules
that must be followed for producing the World's Largest
Musical Instrument Ensemble (using Unconventional Instruments).
They are: "1) All members of the ensemble should be
directed by someone who signals the beginning and end of
the attempt. 2) A formal registration process should take
place. The number of musicians is confirmed by individuals
signing their own names once only a form witnessed by two
independent persons. 3) As full a recital as possible should
be given to be directly comparable with the original record
but, if this is not practicable, a recognized orchestral
piece of music lasting at least five minutes should be performed,
with all musicians playing at some stage during the recital.
4) If a non-classical piece is played, it should be re-scored
for the performance. If a choir is used, the number of members
should be given, but this will not count toward the record.
5) Improvisation is not permitted. 6) The name of the organization,
company or person(s) organizing the attempt should be given
along with the date and place."
