Calliopes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of musical instrument that produces sound by forcing air through pipes, often used in fairs and carnivals
2. An elaborate musical device configured with multiple keys and pressurized air that generates melodic tunes
3. A mechanical organ designed to create vibrant and loud music, commonly associated with circus performances and outdoor entertainment

Etymology: The instrument was named after the muse of epic poetry, not after anything musical in the modern sense. In Greek myth, Calliope was the eldest of the nine Muses, and her name combines "kalos", meaning "beautiful", with "ops", meaning "voice", so it roughly means "beautiful voice". The steam-powered organ that bears her name was built to be heard over great distances, which made a grand, resonant name a fitting label for a loud instrument. Its sound is produced when steam or compressed air is forced through a row of whistle pipes, and it became a familiar feature of fairgrounds and circuses. "Calliopes" is simply the plural form, used when more than one of these instruments is meant.

Synonyms: steam organ, musical instrument