Vessel flutes have been made for thousands of years from stone, wood, coconut and clay. Lavishly decorated and with a beautiful sound, these little round flutes were used in ancient cultures to charm the birds, please the gods and lift people into a higher state of consciousness.

The name ocarina (meaning 'little goose') was first given to a musical instrument when an Italian teenager, Guiseppe Donati, invented 'submarine-shaped' clay flutes in 1853. He showed them to his friends and together, they perfected a musical instrument that has been carried to all corners of the world.

Nowadays English Ocarinas are well-known worldwide as attractive school musical instruments. An ocarina even features in the popular Zelda Ocarina of Time computer game.

Whether made in clay, porcelain, metal or plastic, each ocarina has its own story to tell. David and Christa Liggins have presented these easy-to-read stories with over 300 colour photographs in The Ocarina: a Pictorial History.

Why not listen to some ocarina blasts from the past? Try Sweet Potato Tooters, a great CD of 1930s close-harmony ocarina-playing. The Foursome performed with all the great popular artists of the day including Bing Crosby, George Gershwin and Glenn Miller. Or balance this popular style with a more classical selection, Michael Copley and the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet play a humorous and virtuosic selection of classics on their CD The Ocarina is No Trombone.