History of Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are rooted in the ancient civilizations of Asia, and are one of the worlds first musical instruments dating back 5000 years ago. They were not just used for music, they were also placed in the woods so their enemies would think it was a haunted forest. Historically though, their purpose was to drive away evil spirits while attracting the good, benevolent ones. They first were made with bone, bamboo, stone, and shells. Later,around 2000 BC, the Egyptians made them with bronze. They were introduced to the Western world in the 1800s when Asian art gained popularity in the United States. Since that time, they have found their way into homes, gardens and meditative spaces and are enjoyed today for their meditative, tranquil and relaxing sounds.
The worlds largest musical wind chime is located near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The longest tube is twenty feet long and the shortest is fourteen feet long. There are six metal pipes and they are tuned similar to the black keys of a piano. The deepest tone pipe sounds like a Cathedral bell, Tibetan singing bowl and a jet engine all combined. The shortest has a rich Cathedral sound. The wind chime is made from aluminum tubing and it weighs six hundred and fifty three pounds. It is listed in the Guinness World Records and to this day, still holds that title. It is dedicated to a Holocaust Survivor.
Wind chimes are made from a number of different materials, metal, wood, porcelain, earthenware, bamboo, with each material affecting the sound and resonance that the chimes produce. A few varieties are even made from recycled materials such as recycled silverware. Aluminum wind chimes produce the loudest and most resonant sound, making it one of the most popular choices materials. The tones can sometimes be determined by the heat treatment it was made by, the material and the type of alloy used. As in clay chimes, the higher the final firing temperatures required, the higher the tone will be. Stoneware wind chimes are able to withstand high winds and more durable. The common practice in is to hang the chime so that the center ball strikes the center of the chimes length. This will result in the loudest sound that they can achieve. Sounds are made when the tubes come in contact with a suspended central clapper such as a ball or horizontal disk.
Today, musical wind chimes are found all over the world, but continue to be especially prevalent in the East where they are believed to increase the flow of life's energy called "chi." It is believed that they provide a balancing, calming influence in the home.

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