h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Tis the season for Christmas pageants. Ours was yesterday morning during Sunday School hour. The kids were magnificent, as always. Particularly the sheep. I like the sheep, who wear woolly ponchos and really cool headbands with ears. To be sure, the youngest lamb went on a crying jag in the middle of 'Silent Night' and had to be removed from the Manger Srea, but otherwise, all went smoothly.

Special kudos to the Star. She's about four now, and she held that glittery star in front of her forehead like a trooper. This completely made up for the fact that I couldn't understand a word they were saying - my hearing aids don't do Kid.

There's one adorable tyke - we saw her as an angelette last year, but she was a sheep this time. Obviously expanding her representational range. As before, she stood staring, rapt, into the middle distance throughout the proceedings. Think Shirley Temple with camera freeze, and you've got it.

The absolute highlight of the whole show was the tubular bells performance. At least, that's what I think you call the brightly-coloured PVC pipes the kids had. They all knocked out carols by hitting them against their hands - except for the Star. She banged hers vigorously on the side of the Manger. The baby doll didn't seem to mind.

In addition to the traditional carols, we were also treated to audience-participation 'Jingle Bells'. Some of us were handed rings of bells before the show started. I obliged with a will.

To me, the best number was when the Star appeared over the Manger. Did they sing 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'? They did not. The award for Most Original Use of a Folk Tune goes to the directorial choice of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'.

In short, the Christmas pageant was even more fun than the time they lined the baptistry with sofa cushions and turned it into the Lion's Den. (Baptist baptistries are deep; do not try this at home.)

If you missed this year's Christmas pageant where you are, you might enjoy this 'Saturday Night Live' sketch. The llama deserves an award for putting up with these people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbT9G0D4TR4

Season's greetings, y'all!

That's an interesting question - what do you call the instrument made from PVC pipes that you hit the end of with your hand or a table-tennis bat?

I've seen them in the "Blue Man Group" show, where they have giant arrays of them making all the different pitches.

They're not tubular bells, because the sound is made by the air in the pipe, not by the vibration of the pipe itself. It's the sort of thing I could discuss with Recumbentman, if he's around.

Oh, good. When y'all know, come and tell us!

After a bit of investigation I've come across three different names for this instrument:

1. BoomWhacker
2. RimbaTubes
3. PVC Musical Instrument

The first and second of these are names from particular manufacturers.

A boomwhacker can be struck over the end of the pipe with a hand or paddle, but it can also produce its tone by hitting the tube off something solid.

The RimbaTubes is a sort of xylophone of PVC pipes made by one individual but I'm sure he wouldn't mind you borrowing the name.

The "PVC Musical Instrument" is a bit unspecific for my liking.

So we have here a musical instrument with as yet no real name. There doesn't even appear to be a Hornbostel-Sachs classification for it yet!

This is a serious omission, and must be remedied!

Thanks for the thorough research.