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{{Short description|Hand saw used as a musical instrument}}
{{hatgrp|{{Redirect|Singing saw|the album by Kevin Morby|Singing Saw (album){{!}}''Singing Saw'' (album)}}
{{About||the Thai musical instrument|Saw (disambiguation)#Instruments and devices{{!}}Saw (musical instrument)}}}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name           = Musical saw
| background     = other
| image          = Pascal-Ayerbe-scie-musicale.jpg
| alt            = Someone on the street sitting on a bin playing a [[saw]] with a bow and with it between his legs.
| caption        = A musical saw being played.
| names          = {{hlist|Saw|singing saw}}
| classification = Idiophone
| hornbostel_sachs = 132.1
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = [[Friction idiophone#Friction plaques (132)|Friction idiophone with individual plaque]]
| timbre         = Somewhat like the human voice
| related        = * [[Daxophone]]
* [[Nail violin]]
| sound sample   = [[File:Zaagfragment.ogg]]
}}
A '''musical saw''', also called a '''singing saw''', is a [[hand saw]] used as a [[musical instrument]]. Capable of continuous [[glissando]] ([[portamento]]), the sound creates an ethereal tone, very similar to the [[theremin]]. The musical saw is classified as a plaque friction [[idiophone]] with direct friction (132.1) under the [[Hornbostel-Sachs]] system of [[musical instrument classification]], and as a metal sheet played by friction (151) under the revision of the Hornbostel-Sachs classification by the MIMO Consortium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mimo-international.com/documents/hornbostel%20sachs.pdf|title=Revision of the Hornbostel-Sachs Classification of Musical Instruments by the MIMO Consortium|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

==Playing==
{{Blockquote|[The musical saw is] a flexible handsaw played by holding the handle between the knees and bending the blade while bowing along the flat edge. The musical saw is found in the folk music of Russia and rural America, and is a popular vaudeville instrument.<ref name="Nardolillo">Nardolillo, Jo (2014). ''All Things Strings'', pg. 90. Scarecrow; {{ISBN|9780810884441}}.</ref>}}

The saw is generally played seated with the handle squeezed between the legs, and the far end held with one hand. Some sawists play standing, either with the handle between the knees and the blade sticking out in front of them. The saw is usually played with the serrated edge, or "teeth", facing the body, though some players face them away. Some saw players file down the teeth, which makes no discernable difference to the sound. Many{{snd}}especially professional{{snd}}saw players use a handle, called a Tip-Handle or a Cheat, at the tip of the saw for easier bending and higher virtuosity.

To sound a note, a sawist first bends the blade into an S-curve. The parts of the blade that are curved are dampened from vibration, and do not sound. At the center of the S-curve a section of the blade remains relatively flat. This section, the "sweet spot", can vibrate across the width of the blade, producing a distinct [[pitch (music)|pitch]]: the wider the section of blade, the lower the sound. Sound is usually created by drawing a [[Bow (music)|bow]] across the back edge of the saw at the sweet spot, or sometimes by striking the sweet spot with a mallet.

The sawist controls the pitch by adjusting the S-curve, making the sweet spot travel up the blade (toward a thinner width) for a higher pitch, or toward the handle for a lower pitch. [[Harmonic]]s can be created by playing at varying distances on either side of the sweet spot. Sawists can add [[vibrato]] by shaking one of their legs or by wobbling the hand that holds the tip of the blade. Once a sound is produced, it will [[sustain]] for quite a while, and can be carried through several [[Musical note|note]]s of a [[phrase (music)|phrase]].

On occasion the musical saw is called for in orchestral music, but orchestral percussionists are seldom also sawists.  If a note outside of the saw's range is called for, an electric guitar with a [[Slide guitar|slide]] can be substituted.<ref>Karl Peinkofer and Fritz Tannigel, Handbook of Percussion Instruments, (Mainz, Germany: Schott, 1976), pg. 75.<!-- ISSN/ISBN needed --></ref>

==Types==
[[File:Jean-Claude Welche doc.JPG|thumb|A musical saw, without teeth]]
Sawists often use standard wood-cutting saws, although special musical saws are also made. As compared with wood-cutting saws, the blades of musical saws are generally wider, for [[range (music)|range]], and longer, for finer control. They do not have set or sharpened teeth, and may have grain running parallel to the back edge of the saw, rather than parallel to the teeth. Some musical saws are made with thinner metal, to increase flexibility, while others are made thicker, for a richer [[timbre|tone]], longer sustain, and stronger harmonics.

A typical musical saw is {{Convert|5|in|cm}} wide at the handle end and {{Convert|1|in|cm}} wide at the tip. Such a saw will generally produce about two [[octave]]s, regardless of length. A bass saw may be over {{Convert|6|in|cm}} at the handle and produce about two-and-a-half octaves. There are also musical saws with 3–4 octaves range, and new improvements have resulted in as much as 5 octaves note range. Two-person saws, also called "misery whips", can also be played, though with less virtuosity, and they produce an octave or less of range.

Most sawists use cello or violin bows, using violin [[rosin]], but some may use improvised home-made bows, such as a wooden dowel.

==Producers==
Musical saws have been produced for over a century, primarily in the United States, but also in Scandinavia, Germany, France (Lame sonore) and Asia.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://organology.net/instrument/musical-saw/
| title = Musical saw
| website = Organology
| access-date = 3 May 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/05/amaze-your-friends-and-irritate-your.html
| title = Amaze your friends and irritate your enemies with it.
| website = Appalachian History
| access-date = 3 May 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.thomasbloch.net/en_musical-saw.html
| title = MUSICAL SAW - SINGING BLADE **** THOMAS BLOCH --- The instruments : pictures, facts
| website = thomasbloch.net
| access-date = 3 May 2025
}}</ref>

=== United States ===
In the early 1900s, there were at least ten companies in the United States manufacturing musical saws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sawlady.com/DifferentSaws.htm|title=Musical Saw manufacturers|website=Sawlady.com|last = Paruz|first = Natalia|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> These saws ranged from familiar steel varieties to premium, gold-plated saws worth hundreds of dollars. However, with the start of World War II the demand for metals made the manufacture of saws too expensive and many of these companies went out of business. By the year 2000, only three companies in the United States{{snd}}Mussehl & Westphal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicalsaws.com/|title=The World's Finest Musical Saws – Anyone Can Play – Mussehl & Westphal|website=Musical Saws|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> Charlie Blacklock,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blacklocksaws.com|title=Home – Charlie Blacklock Musical Saws|website=Home – Charlie Blacklock Musical Saws|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> and Wentworth<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicalsaw.com/|title=Singing Saw – Musical Saws For Sale – Easiest Instrument To Learn|website=Musical Saw – Singing Saw|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731200324/http://musicalsaw.com/|archive-date=31 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{snd}}were making saws.  In 2012, a company called Index Drums started producing a saw that had a built-in [[transducer]] in the handle, called the "JackSaw".<ref>[http://indexdrums.com/jacksaw "The JackSaw" amplified musical saw] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804054223/http://indexdrums.com/jacksaw|date=2013-08-04}}</ref>

===Outside the United States===
Outside the United States, makers of musical saws include Bahco, makers of the limited edition Stradivarius,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicalinstruments.com/products/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4902&idcategory=1173|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129061517/http://www.musicalinstruments.com/products/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4902&idcategory=1173|url-status=dead|title=Sandvik Stradivarius Musical Saw - Saw - MusicalInstruments.com|date=29 January 2013|archive-date=29 January 2013|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> Alexis in France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciemusicale.fr|title=Sciemusicale.fr|website=Sciemusicale.fr|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> Feldmann<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.feldmanns-singende-saege.de/ |title=Singende Säge, singing saw, musical saw, singende Saege, feldmanns singende säge, singendesäge, singingsaw, musicalsaw |access-date=2018-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308025612/http://feldmanns-singende-saege.de/ |archive-date=2018-03-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Stövesandt<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mistersaw.com/shop_en.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821105037/http://www.mistersaw.com/shop_en.html |archive-date=2016-08-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in Germany, Music Blade in Greece and Thomas Flinn & Company in the United Kingdom,<ref>[http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/acatalog/ROBERTS___LEE_PARKSTONE_MUSICAL_SAW.html Musical Saws and Accessories] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531133940/http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/acatalog/ROBERTS___LEE_PARKSTONE_MUSICAL_SAW.html|date=31 May 2010}}</ref> based in Sheffield, who produce three different sized musical saws, as well as accessories.

==Events, championships and world records==
The International Musical Saw Association (IMSA) produces an annual International Musical Saw Festival (including a "Saw-Off" competition) every August in [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]] and [[Felton, California]]. An International Musical Saw Festival is held every other summer in New York City, produced by [[Natalia Paruz]]. Paruz also produced a musical saw festival in [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/849092.html|title=חמישה חודשי מאסר נגזרו על המשוררת דארין טאטור שהורשעה בהסתה|access-date=31 July 2018|via=Haaretz}}</ref> There are also annual saw festivals in Japan and China.

A [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]] for the largest musical-saw ensemble was established July 18, 2009, at the annual NYC Musical Saw Festival. Organized by Paruz, 53 musical saw players performed together.<ref>[http://musicalsawfestival.org/guinness-world-record Guinness World Record], ''NYC Musical Saw Festival''; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>

In 2011 a [[World Championship]] took place in Jelenia Góra/Poland. Winners: 1. Gladys Hulot (France), 2. Katharina Micada (Germany), 3. Tom Fink (Germany).<ref>[http://www.singende-saege.com/en/world-championship.html World Championship Musical saw], singende-saege.com; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>

Caroline McCaskey became the first person to play the American National Anthem with a saw at a [[Major League Baseball]] game (Oakland Athletics’ Coliseum) on June 6, 2022.<ref>[https://www.outkick.com/woman-plays-the-national-anthem-with-a-saw/ Woman Plays The National Anthem With A Saw], Outkick.com; accessed June 9, 2022.</ref>

==Performers==
People notable for playing the musical saw. <!-- NOTE: Names on this list should either have an accompanying existing article link which verifies their association, or reliable sources as footnotes against the name. -->

* [[Natalia Paruz]], also known as the "Saw Lady", plays the musical saw in movie soundtracks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3297559/|title=Natalia Paruz|website=IMDb|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> in television commercials, with orchestras internationally, and is the organizer of international musical saw festivals in New York City and Israel. She was a judge at the musical saw festival in France and she played the saw in the off-Broadway show 'Sawbones'. The December 3, 2011, crossword puzzle of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' had Paruz as a question: Down 5{{snd}}Instrument played by Natalia Paruz.<ref>{{cite news |title=There's Someone After Me! |first=Randall J. |last=Hartman |date=2011-12-03 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/r/WashingtonPost/Content/Puzzles/Daily/cs111203.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919092012/https://www.washingtonpost.com/r/WashingtonPost/Content/Puzzles/Daily/cs111203.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-19}}</ref>
* [[Mara Carlyle]], a London based singer/songwriter who often performs using the musical saw, and the instrument features on her albums ''The Lovely'' and ''Floreat''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mara Carlyle – Topic|title=Saw Song|date=2015-01-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX9NiYJ20m4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/FX9NiYJ20m4| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-06-12|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* David Coulter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and music supervisor; ex-member of [[Test Dept]] and [[The Pogues]], has played musical saw live, in films, on tv and stages around the world and on numerous albums with: [[Damon Albarn]], [[Gorillaz]], and [[Tom Waits]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2004/may/21/2|title=Storm in a pawnshop|first=John L.|last=Walters|date=21 May 2004|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> He has played on many film scores, including ''[[Is Anybody There?]]'' (2008) and ''[[It's a Boy Girl Thing]]'' (2006), and has featured on TV soundtrack and themes tunes, most recently for ''[[Psychoville]]'' and episodes of ''[[Wallander (British TV series)|Wallander]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3539509/|title=David Coulter|website=IMDb.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
* [[Janeen Rae Heller]] played the saw in four television guest appearances: ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' (1989),<ref name=HellerIMDb/> ''[[Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)|Quantum Leap]]'' (1990),<ref name=HellerIMDb/> and ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' (1992<ref name=HellerIMDb>{{IMDb name|1750438|Janeen Rae Heller}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/home-improvement/stereo-typical/episode/22993/summary.html|title=Home Improvement: Stereo-Typical|website=TV.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> and 1999). She has also performed on albums such as [[Michael Hedges]]' ''[[The Road to Return]]'' in 1994 and [[Rickie Lee Jones]]'s ''[[Ghostyhead]]'' in 1997.
* Mio Higashino, based in Osaka, Japan, won first place in the 42nd International Musical Saw Festival.  Mio performs in Japan as part of the two-member group Mollen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sawnotes.com/42nd-annual-saw-festival-the-winner-is/ |title=42nd Annual Saw Festival: The winner is...  |last=Southard |first=Rowena |date=August 23, 2019 |website=Saw Notes - A resource for Musical Saw Enthusiasts |access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref>
*Charles Hindmarsh, {{aka}} [[The Yorkshire Musical Saw Player]], has played the musical saw throughout the UK.
* [[Kev Hopper]], formerly the bass guitarist in the 1980s band [[Stump (band)|Stump]], made an EP titled ''Saurus'' in 2002 featuring six original saw tunes.
* Christine Johnston (under the stage name Eve Kransky) of [[The Kransky Sisters]] plays the musical saw alongside other traditional and improvised instruments.
* Brigid Kaelin, an American multi-instrumentalist/composer, features the saw in her performances and recordings, including two musical saw albums and many appearances playing the musical saw with Elvis Costello.<ref>https://www.spin.com/2023/02/elvis-costello-gramercy-theater-night-two/</ref>
* [[Julian Koster]] of the band [[Neutral Milk Hotel]] played the singing saw, along with other instruments, in the band and also plays the saw in his solo project, [[The Music Tapes]]. In 2008, he released ''[[The Singing Saw at Christmastime]]''. He also writes and co-directs the podcast [[The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air)]] which prominently features singing saws in the story.
* Katharina Micada plays the musical saw on cabaret stages and with different Symphony Orchestras like [[Berlin Philharmonic|Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]] and [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]]. A singer, she is one of the few players, who can sing and play the saw simultaneously and in pitch.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLBifYvxAhE Video clip with singing and playing the saw simultaneously and in pitch], youtube.com; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref> She has played in TV- and Radio shows and for film and CD recordings.<ref>[http://www.singende-saege.com/en/index.html Profile: Musical saw player Katharina Micada], singende-saege.com; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>
* [[Jamie Muir]] of the [[progressive rock]] band [[King Crimson]] briefly uses a musical saw on the song "Easy Money" from the album [[Larks' Tongues in Aspic]]. 
* Bonnie Paine, singer and multi-instrumentalist from [[Talequah, Oklahoma]], co-founder of Colorado folk-rock group [[Elephant Revival]] has performed on the musical saw as a member of the band.
* [[Angela Perley and the Howlin' Moons]], an American rock band from [[Columbus, Ohio]], features singer/guitarist Angela Perley who performs the musical saw on their recorded albums and at their live shows.
* [[Quinta (musician)|Quinta]] (a.k.a. Kath Mann), London-based multi-instrumentalist and composer, has collaborated with many artists on the musical saw, including Bat for Lashes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/news/3393354|title=Bat for Lashes reveals her band for Radiohead supports|website=Drownedinsound.com|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731123740/http://drownedinsound.com/news/3393354|url-status=dead}}</ref> Radiohead's Philip Selway,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/08/radioheads-philip-selway-launches-tour-tokyo/|title=Radiohead's Philip Selway Launches Tour in Tokyo|date=27 August 2010|website=Spin.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> and The Paper Cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thepapercinema.com/about/odyssey-tour-2012/|title=The Paper Cinema|website=Thepapercinema.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
* Thomas Jefferson Scribner was a familiar figure on the streets of [[Santa Cruz, California]] during the 1970s playing the musical saw. He performed on a variety of recordings and appeared in folk music festivals in the United States and Canada during the 1970s.<ref>[http://thefestival.bc.ca/multimedia/archives/1979-2 1979] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120727002940/http://thefestival.bc.ca/multimedia/archives/1979-2|date=2012-07-27}}, ''Vancouver Folk Music Festival''.</ref> His work as labour organizer and member of the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] is documented in the 1979 film ''The Wobblies''. Canadian composer/saw player Robert Minden pays tribute to him on his Web site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lostsound.com/contact/|title=Robert Minden Duo|website=lostsound.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> Musician and songwriter [[Utah Phillips]] has recorded a song referencing Scribner, "The Saw Playing Musician" on the album ''[[Fellow Workers]]'' with [[Ani DiFranco]]. Artist Marghe McMahon was inspired in 1978 to create a bronze statue of Tom playing the musical saw which sits in downtown Santa Cruz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4DKP_Thomas_Jefferson_Scribner|title=Thomas Jefferson Scribner - Musician Statues on Waymarking.com|website=Waymarking.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
* [[That 1 Guy]], an American based musician who performs using homemade instruments.<ref>{{cite web|last=dreampepper – Topic|title=That 1 Guy – Somewhere Over the Rainbow (live)|date=2008-04-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?=8Ci6TmR29OI?t=106|access-date=2019-06-11|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
* Jim Turner released ''The Well-Tempered Saw'' on Owl Records in 1971<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jim-Turner-The-Well-Tempered-Saw/release/2518233|title=Jim Turner – the Well-Tempered Saw (1971, Vinyl)|website=[[Discogs]]|date=1971 }}</ref>
* [[Victor Victoria]] (Victoria Falconer) of the musical cabaret troupe Fringe Wives Club and [[dark cabaret]] comedy duo [[EastEnd Cabaret]] plays the musical saw as part of their live shows, amongst other instruments.<ref>[http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2012/e/20931/east_end_cabaret:_notoriously_kinky/review Announcement of a show with East End cabaret at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh], chortle.co.uk; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>
* [[Liu Ya]] from China is a professional violinist and saw player and is famous for her interpretation of the "Bird song", which she performed in Chinese TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgPJ3d8wZsY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/NgPJ3d8wZsY| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Ya Liu – Chinese Musical Saw Association|author=Charles Hindmarsh|date=23 March 2011|access-date=31 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Marlene Dietrich===
German actress and singer [[Marlene Dietrich]], who lived and worked in the United States for a long time, is probably the most famous person who played the musical saw.{{According to whom|date=November 2024}} When she studied the violin for one year in [[Weimar]] in her early twenties, her musical skills were already evident. Some years later she learned to play the musical saw while she was shooting the film ''[[Café Elektric]]'' in Vienna in 1927. Her colleague, the actor and musician [[Igo Sym]], taught her how to play. In the shooting breaks and at weekends both performed romantic duets, he at the piano and she at the musical saw.<ref>Daniel Spoto: ''Marlene Dietrich.'' Heyne Verlag, München 1992, pg. 61.<!-- ISSN/ISBN needed --></ref>

Sym gave his saw to her as a farewell gift. The following words are engraved on the saw: "Now Suidy is gone / the sun d’ont [sic!] / shine… / Igo / Vienna 1927"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kuenste-im-exil.de/KIE/Content/EN/Objects/dietrich-singende-saege-en.html?single=1|title=Objects – Marlene Dietrich's Musical Saw|website=kuenste-im-exil.de|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
She took the saw with her, when she left for Hollywood in 1929 and played there in the following years at film sets and Hollywood parties.
When she participated in the [[United Service Organizations]] (USO) shows for the US troops in 1944, she also played on the saw. Some of these shows were broadcast on radio, so there exist two rare recordings of her saw playing, embedded in entertaining interviews. 1. Aloha Oe<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLG5iqh5c0 Marlene Dietrich performing "Aloha oe" on the musical saw]"</ref>  2. other song<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo97E2H2Ec8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zo97E2H2Ec8| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Marlene Dietrich Plays Her Musical Saw! 1948|date=14 January 2015|access-date=31 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===In fiction===
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2018}}
* In the 1940 animated film ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', Jiminy Cricket bounced on the saw for the song, "Give a Little Whistle", the saw is whistling like the musical saw, whistling effects by [[Marion Darlington]]. (1940)
* The Theme song of the movie ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest]]'' is played on a musical saw.
* ''[[Delicatessen (1991 film)|Delicatessen]]'' is directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro and includes an impressing duet for violoncello and musical saw, which is performed on a roof. (1991)
* ''[[Dummy (2002 film)|Dummy]]'', directed by Greg Pritikin, starring [[Adrien Brody]] has an audition scene with a musical saw player (portrayed by [[Natalia Paruz]]) (2002)
* In 2002, an orchestra of 30 musical saws appeared in Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's five-hundredth Deathday Party in the ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' book.
* In the 2011 movie ''[[Another Earth]]'' the character of the composer plays the saw (on the soundtrack is Natalia Paruz). 
* In the 2014 animated film ''[[My Little Pony: Equestria Girls — Rainbow Rocks]]'', one of the film's background characters, Derpy Hooves, plays the musical saw in her band.
* In the 2014 stop-motion animated film ''[[The Boxtrolls]]'', one of the main Boxtrolls who took care of Eggs, Fish, plays the musical saw with Eggs in their cave.
* In the film ''[[Mr. Peabody & Sherman]]'', Mr. Peabody plays a musical saw. (2014)
* In the 8th episode of season 3 of the TV series [[Hilda (TV series)|''Hilda'']], Victoria Van Gale is seen playing a musical saw in the tower in Fairy Country.

==Composers and compositions==
{{more citations needed|section|date=July 2018}}
Beginning from the early 1920s composers of both contemporary and popular music wrote for the musical saw.
One of the first was [[Franz Schreker]] who included the musical saw in his opera ''[[Christophorus oder Die Vision einer Oper|Christophorus]]'' (1925–29) where it is used in the séance scene of the second act.<ref>Christopher Hailey: 'Franz Schreker: A cultural biography' (Cambridge University Press, 1993), p.246.</ref> Other early examples include [[Dmitri Shostakovich]]: he included the musical saw, e.g., in the film music for ''[[The New Babylon]]'' (1929), in ''[[The Nose (opera)|The Nose]]'' (1928),<ref name="Nardolillo"/> and in ''[[Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (opera)|Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District]]'' (1934).
Shostakovich and other composers of his time used the term "Flexaton" to mark the musical saw. "Flexaton" just means "to flex a tone", in which the saw is flexed to change the pitch. Unfortunately, there exists another instrument called [[Flexatone]], so there has been confusion for a long time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.singende-saege.com/shostakovich-the-nose.html|title=Flexaton / Musical saw in Shostakovich's opera "The nose" – Katharina Micada – Singende Säge|first=Katharina|last=Micada|website=Singende-saege.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> [[Aram Khachaturian]], who knew Shostakovich's music, included the musical saw in his [[Piano Concerto (Khachaturian)|Piano Concerto]] (1936)<ref name="Nardolillo"/> in the second movement. Another composer was the Swiss [[Arthur Honegger]], who included the saw in his opera ''[[Antigone (Honegger)|Antigone]]'' in 1924. 
The Romanian composer [[George Enescu]] used the musical saw at the end of the second act of his opera ''[[Œdipe (opera)|Œdipe]]'' (1931) to show in an extensive glissando{{snd}}which begins with the mezzo-soprano and is continued by the saw{{snd}}the death and ascension of the sphinx killed by Oedipus.

The Italian composer [[Giacinto Scelsi]] wrote a part for the saw in his quarter-tone piece ''Quattro pezzi per orchestra'' (1959). German composer [[Hans Werner Henze]] took the saw to characterize the mean hero of his tragical opera ''[[Elegy for young lovers]]'' (1961).

Other composers were [[Krysztof Penderecki]] with ''Fluorescences'' (1961), ''De natura sonoris Nr. 2'' (1971) and the opera ''[[Ubu Rex]]'' (1990), [[Bernd Alois Zimmermann]] with ''Stille und Umkehr'' (1970), [[George Crumb]] with ''[[Ancient voices of children]]'' (1970), [[John Corigliano]] with ''[[The Mannheim Rocket]]'' (2001).

Composer Scott Munson wrote ''Clover Hill'' (2007) for saw and orchestra, Quintet for saw and strings (2009), ''The World Is Too Much with Us'' for soprano singer, saw and strings (2009), ''Ars longa vitas {{sic}} brevis'' for saw and string quartet (2010), 'Bend' for saw and string quartet (2011) many pieces for jazz band and saw (2010–2013), ''Lullaby for the Forgotten'' for saw and piano (2015), and many movie and theater scores containing the saw.

[[Chaya Czernowin]] used the saw in her opera "PNIMA...Ins Innere" (2000) to represent the character of the grandfather, who is traumatized by the Holocaust.

There are further [[Leif Segerstam]], [[Hans Zender]] (orchestration of "5 préludes" by Claude Debussy), and [[Oscar Strasnoy]] (opera ''Le bal'').

Russian composer [[Lera Auerbach]] wrote for the saw in her ballet ''The Little Mermaid'' (2005), in her symphonic poem ''Dreams and Whispers of Poseidon'' (2005), in her oratorio "Requiem Dresden – Ode to Peace" (2012), in her Piano Concerto No.1 (2015), in her comic oratorio ''The Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie'' (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sikorski.de/10619/en/new_work_the_infant_minstrel_and_his_peculiar_menagerie_by_lera_auerbach_in_bergen.html|title=The Infant Minstrel and His Peculiar Menagerie|author=Lera Auerbach|website=Sikorski.de|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> and in her violin concerto Nr.4 "NyX – Fractured dreams" (2017).

Canadian composer Robert Minden has written extensively for the musical saw.<ref>See, for example: "Serenade" from ''The Boy Who Wanted To Talk To Whales'', "Epilogue" from ''Long Journey Home'': [http://www.lostsound.com/recordings/default.html Catalogue: Otter Bay Productions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005225900/http://www.lostsound.com/recordings/default.html |date=2011-10-05 }}, LostSound.com; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref> [[Michael A. Levine]] composed ''[[Divination By Mirrors for Saw and Strings|Divination By Mirrors]]'' for musical saw soloist and two string ensembles tuned a [[quarter tone]] apart, taking advantage of the saws ability to play in both tunings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.violin-saw.com/daleviolinist/dalesawist.html|title=violin and musical saw|website=Violin-saw.com|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075602/http://www.violin-saw.com/daleviolinist/dalesawist.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031120033216/http://www.ncco.org/Reviews/sacgaz10_17_03.htm Varied Program Highlights New Century Premier], NCCO.org; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>

Other composers for chamber music with musical saw are Jonathan Rutherford (''An Intake of Breath''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.singende-saege.com/rutherford.html|title=Rutherford – Katharina Micada – Singende Säge|first=Katharina|last=Micada|website=Singende-saege.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> Dana Wilson (''Whispers from Another Time''),<ref>[http://www.danawilson.org/files/audio/Whispers%20recording%201.mp3 Recording of Dana Wilson's ''Whispers from another time''], Danawilson.org; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref> [[Heinrich Gattermeyer]] (''Elegie für Singende Säge, Cembalo (oder Klavier)'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://db.musicaustria.at/node/129688|title=Elegie für singende Säge, Cembalo (oder Klavier) – Musikdatenbank|website=db.musicaustria.at|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> [[Vito Zuraj]] (''Musica di {{sic}} camera'' (2001))<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vitozuraj.com/en/works.php|title=Vito Zuraj – Composer|last=Woltaire|website=Vitozuraj.com|access-date=31 July 2018}}</ref> and Britta-Maria Bernhard (''Tranquillo'').<ref>[http://www.singende-saege.com/tranquillo.html about Britta Maria Bernhard's ''Tranquillo''], Singende-saege.com; accessed July 31, 2018.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Flexatone]]
* [[Wobble board]]
* [[Daxophone]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Musical saws}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/756148807826291/ The Musical Saw forum on Facebook]
* [http://www.musicalsawfestival.org/ The annual NYC Musical Saw Festival]
* [http://www.sawlady.com/ History of the musical saw, saws made for music, poetry mentioning musical saw, movies with musical saw, etc.]
* [http://www.musicalsaws.com/html/mwhistry.html Brief History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180521/http://www.musicalsaws.com/html/mwhistry.html |date=2016-03-03 }}

{{Friction idiophones}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musical Saw}}
[[Category:Bowed instruments]]
[[Category:Continuous pitch instruments]]
[[Category:Individual friction plaques]]
[[Category:Pitched percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Improvised musical instruments]]
[[Category:Saws]]