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VOLUME 13 #1,
SEPTEMBER 1997
Letters and Notes. 9 pages; 4 photos; 5
drawings.
Grant Strombeck: Noise is our fundamental nature. Tony
Cowdroy: In response to Bill Houck's letter in March '97
issue; describes a cuckoo call. Bob Grawi: Natural horns
without valves; Gravikord, an electric diatonic double
harps. Peter Etcetera: The Drumball. Dr. Guy Grant and
Oddmus, a free e-mail list covering experimental, ethnic,
and unusual musical instruments. Corrections to article
about a sound device called LIFE. Het Apollohuis, the Dutch
venue for innovative art and music forced to close. New
organization for Jew's Harp enthusiasts. Randy Moeller and
the Vulcan Lyrette. Mandocrucian's Digest, the mandolin
magazine no longer publishing; back issues still available.
Gerard Westendorp and Pyrophones. Keith Spears' and
Industrial Chimes and buzzers. Ben Cohen on instruments
built from ultrasonic humidifier tanks. Dave Knott and the
Metaphone. Sam Pappas and the Horn Harp. Websites of
interest to EMI readers.
"Speech Production and Four Historical
Speech Synthesis Projects": Martin Riches. 6+ pages; 3
photos; 3 drawings; 4 diagrams.
In the 1st of 2 articles on speech synthesis, the author
describes the mechanics of speech production. This is
followed by a description of four important historical
synthetic speech devices: Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein;
free reed organ reed; Von Kempelen's Speaking Machine;
Joseph Faber's Euphonia; The Voder (Voice Operation
DemonstratoR).
"Sirens: Pt. 2": Bart Hopkin. 3+ pages; 2
photos.
In the second part of a two part series, the author
describes a pair of simple musical sirens he made with the
idea of passing on some of the practical design and
construction information picked up along the way. Includes a
scale making chart [additional keywords: electric
motor].
Book Reviews. 1 1/2 pages.
John Edfors: Woodwind Instruments From PVC: Guidelines For
Constructing Experimental Instruments From PVC Pipe and
Related Materials [additional keywords: flute;
fife]. Bill and Mary Buchen: Urban Sound Park Design
John Madin: Make Your Own Wacky Instruments Robert B.
Sexton: Method For The Theremin, Book 1, Basics; David
Winters: Natural and Artificial Harmonics For The
Guitar
"Balloon Boom": Text and drawings by
Robin Goodfellow. 1+ pages; 3 drawings.
This article is dedicated to building the Tin Can Balloon
Drum, a very simple yet resourceful percussive device, with
an eye to its use with children. In addition, Goodfellow
offers some cultural lore, rudimentary principles of sound,
a song with which the instrument can be used and lastly, a
small list of further reading [additional keywords:
drums; percussion, children's instruments].
"Chinese Wind-Driven Kite Flutes": K.U.
Wahl. 4+ pages; 6 photos; 6 drawings.
Part one of this article consists of some historical
background (dating back to 960 AD) on Kite Flutes. Part two
consists of instructions on how to build a small Kite Flute,
including excellent photographs of examples. Includes
bibliography [additional keywords: aeolian harp;
zither].
"Slate": Will Menter. 4+ pages; 9
photos.
The author describes his fascination with slate as a
material (for instruments) and provides interesting
background on the British slate industry's exploitation of
the Welsh and its consequences. He describes his slate
marimbas and llechiphones. Finally, he describes two of his
collaborations with other traditional musicians and sound
sculptors and their consequent performances combining both
his social and musical interests [additional keywords:
xylophones; harp; stones].
"Building Modular Drums From Plastic Pipe
and Plywood": Bennett Cohen. 4+ pages; 8 photos; 1
drawing.
The author describes his modular, or inter-connectible,
drums and goes into detail on their construction and use of
materials, particularly plumbing fixtures available from a
hardware store.
VOLUME 13 #2, DECEMBER 1997
Letters and Notes. 9 pages; 6 photos; 5
drawings; 1 diagram.
Zeno Okeanos: Automobile Ah-Ooh-Ga Horns [additional
keywords: electric motors]. John Coltman: The Old
Model-T Horn. Susan Rawcliffe: The environmental dangers of
PVC tubing. Joan Bell Cowan: The Orff Institut in Salzburg,
Austria; "Canya" or arundo donax [cane reeds; bamboo;
guiro; woodwinds]. Bill Mauzey: On the benefits of
Gorilla glue for gluing styrofoam. Jason Gibbs: In response
to a letter in EMI June 1997 about Dan bau. The Stranger
Creek Instrument Maker's Catalog [now no longer in
business] is a mail-order outfit stocking books and
resources on instruments and instrument making. The
Backpacker Ukulele from Martin Guitar Company. Five ideas
for possible strange sound makers from Sarn Richard Ursell.
Frank Pahl's: Automatic Marimba and Virtual Pet: Gerbil. The
Pipeline Festival at Podewil, Berlin. Websites of interest
to EMI readers. The New Zealand Deagan Organ Chimes
[additional keywords: angklung; vibraphones;
xylophones]. Ray Wilding-White on Monday Morning at The
Gargoyle Works: a score for chairs that are scraped,
rattled, dragged on the floor, etc.
"The Talking Machine: A Mechanical Speech
Synthesizer": Martin Riches. 5 pages; 1 photo; 7
drawings/diagrams.
The second in a two part series devoted to the subject of
speech synthesis. Here, Riches describes the construction
and research for his mechanical speech synthesizer. Includes
bibliography.
"Scrappy Scrapers": Text and drawings by
Robin Goodfellow. 2 pags; 3 drawings; 1 score.
In the second of a series of illustrated articles,
Goodfellow offers some cultural historical context on
instruments that are scraped. She provides simple
instructions on how to construct a few instruments simple
enough for children, and presents a score to attempt after
having built some of these sound makers [additional
keywords: The Nigerian ivuur; dikwaksa from Zaire;
idiophones; gourds; cheese graters; light bulb protectors;
Korean Yu].
"Making Tube Drums and Styrocellos: Two
Really Simple Instruments": Skip LaPlante. 2 1/2 pages; 3
drawings/diagrams.
LaPlante herein describes two very simple instruments using
recycled or discarded materials. The mailing tube drum is
just that, with one plastic endcap removed. The styro cello
combines wood and cardboard tube, styrofoam, wire, a
turnbuckle, and two bolts into a stringed instrument
[additional keywords: percussion].
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments:
The Solar Bug Box": Q.R.Ghazala. 4 pages; 4 photos.
Reed Ghazala describes his light-powered and light-modulated
synthesizer, at the heart of which is a very basic "tone
burst" generator. This aleatoric device creates insect-like
sounds among other things and was inspired by unknown
ambient natural sounds.
"Sounding Antiquity: Reconstructions of
Ancient Greek Music": Mitchell Clark. 3+ pages; 1
drawing.
Clark focuses on musical reconstructions based on surviving
notations from ancient Greece as reflected in 5 recent
recordings (a discography is included). He takes into
consideration the issue of authenticity and the
anachronistic use of certain instruments [additional
keywords: lyres; harps; lutes; zithers; reed-pipe aulos;
pitched idiophones; historical musicology; music
archeology].
"Scratching the Surface: The Balloon in
My Life": Ricardo Arias; Drawings by Naomi Culla. 5 pages; 1
photo; 11 drawings.
After describing what led him to meta or nontraditional/
formal music, Arias offers sound-production techniques that
he has used to make balloon music. This is followed by the
story of the Balloon Kit: a contraption that allows for a
kind of one-person-balloon-hand act. Includes bibliography
[additional keywords: elastic aerophones; rubber,
latex].
"Scot Jenerik's Fire Music": Mike
Hovancsek. 3 pages; 6 photos.
After a bit of background on Jenerik's modus operandi, the
author describes Jenerik's use of contact mics in his gloves
and knee pads to amplify lit sheets of metal, a
flame-thrower harp and an 8 ft. 2x4 strung with springs and
piano wire. Photo cells trigger various sound sources
according to the height of the flames, Hovancsek conducts an
interview with him [additional keywords: propane;
everyday objects].
"Historical Patents For Horned Violins":
Cary Clements. 5 pages; 14 drawings.
The author looks at 14 horned violin patents issued in the
U.S. between 1900 and 1949 that were innovations based on or
very similar to the Stroh Violin (see EMI June 1995): a
violin with a horn to increase its volume for use in
recording.
VOLUME 13 #3, MARCH 1998
Letters and Notes. 4 pages; 1 photo; 1
drawing.
Cyrus Heiduska: On a "found" instrument made up of holes in
a road. John Chalmers: In response to Mitchell Clark's
"Sounding Antiquity" article on Ancient Greek music in
previous issue; Chalmers mentions another relevant recording
and mentions scales, etc [additional keywords: diatonic
scale; Pythagorean scales; tetrachords]. Ranjit
Bhatnagan: Recommendation for two sirens not mentioned in
sirens article in EMI September 1997. Greg Phillips:
Computer program allows the user to simulate tunings for
chimes, recommends lengths, and gives reference tones. The
trumpet call of the parasaurolophus, an herbivorous
duck-billed dinosaur. Web sites of interest. Erie Art Museum
exhibit on resonator guitars. Traditional Orchestrions (but
newly made) available through Hammacher
Schlemmer.
"The Free Reed": Michael Hearst. 4 pages;
2 photos; 14 drawings.
The author, a former harmonica technician at the Hohner
Company, defines the free reed, offers brief construction
tips (including materials, what determines pitch, etc.).
Following this, he gives a fascinating history of some free
reed instruments dating back to China 3000 BC (the sheng) to
the present with instruments such as harmonicas, the
Claviola, and the Mellotron [additional keywords:
bandoneons, accordions, melodicas, pianets,
etc.].
"Poeme Electronique: A Building as an
Instrument": Ray Wilding-White. 6 pages; 6 photos; 8
drawings/diagrams.
The author describes the creation of the Philips Pavilion at
the World Fair in Brussels 1958. Also included is a
description of the Edgard Varese's compositional process and
how mathematics played a profound role in both the
construction of the building and the sound that filled it.
Further sources listed [additional keywords: Xenakis; Le
Corbusier; L.C. Kalff].
"Hunka Hunka Churnin' Wood: A 2x4 Contest
Entry": Art Liestman. 2 pages; 3 photos.
Liestman describes his entry into the annual Pacific
Woodworkers Guild event in which each contestant is to make
any project from a single piece of wood that measures 2
inches by 4 inches by 8 feet. Described herein is the
construction of his invention: a xylophone pitched to an
Indonesian scale controlled by a crank. He won 1st prize
[additional keywords: xylophones; wood;
marimbas].
"Empty Vessels: Readymade Resonators for
String Instruments": Peter Whitehead. 3 pages; 11 photos; 1
diagram.
Instrument innovator and composer Peter Whitehead describes
ways of building plucked string instrument (i.e. banjo, bass
lyre) using found or reused metal containers as resonators
(i.e. cookie or ham containers; pie tins) and then describes
bowed instruments (i.e. tamboura, etc.).
"A Sonic Odyssey and Quest For Clarity":
Peter Horsefield. 4 pages; 1 photo; 7 drawings/diagrams.
A description of a few of the author's stringed instruments
which include: harps; dulcimer; and musical
kites.
"Sound Sculpture From Hungary:
Photographs of works by Rezso Moder and Tibor Budahelyi.
Notes by Kim Johnson. 3 pages; 9 photos.
This article presents photos and a brief introduction to two
Hungarian (sound) sculptors based on catalogs sent to EMI
via Albert Leskowsky [additional keywords: metal;
wood].
"Ellen Fullman's Long String Instrument":
Mike Hovancsek. 2+ pages; 2 photos; 1 diagram.
A description of The Long String Instrument, made up of 120
80ft long strings, which produces sound by rubbing rosined
fingers along the length: vibration travels from end to end
(as opposed to perpindicular to the string) [additional
keywords: drone].
"Ramblings": Bart Hopkin. 1+ pages; 1
photo; 1 drawing.
The subject of this article is building a simple harp with a
roasting pan. It turns into a lesson on simplicity itself:
Hopkin describes his unsuccessful attempt to create a harp
with 56 strings cross-strung on a 15" roasting pan. He then
tries the same technique with 28 strings with more success
[additional keywords: zithers; lyres;
strings].
"From Flutes To Nuts or A Spring Egg
Roll": Text and drawings by Robin Goodfellow. 3 pages; 11
drawings; 1 score.
The third in a series presenting ideas for musical
instruments simple enough to be made by children, offers a
lesson plan, includes rudimentary principles of sound,
elements of cultural lore, and a score. The subject of this
article is eggshells and how to turn them into ocarinas:
technically an enclosed chamber in which air vibrates when
an air stream is blown across the edge of an opening in the
chamber [additional keywords: woodwinds; globular
flutes, vessel flutes].
"Bucket Drum Toms and The Marching
Marimba": Jody Krustal. 3 pages; 7 photos.
An instructional guide to using buckets of all kinds as
drums and percussive devices (i.e. marimbas).
Books Reviews. 3 ½ pages
Nelly van Ree Bernard: The Tuning Monochord Monchordio
'Bermudo': A hypothetical reconstruction of a 16th century
Iberian clavichord and its employment and The Keyed
Monochord: Rediscovery of a forgotten instrument.
Harry Partch: Enclosure: 3.
Kathy Teck, Roy Doty and The Hit-It Band:
Bears Beat Bowls In The Bathtub.
J.C. Kleinbauer: How To Build a Barrel Organ: An
Adventure In Plastic.
VOLUME 13 #4, JUNE
1998
Letters and Notes. 9 pages; 8 photos; 4
drawings.
Crane: Corrections regarding the architect of Phillips
Pavilion: Le Corbusier or Iannis Xenakis? David L. Roop:
Dreams of Instruments (i.e. percussive pillow). Bill Mauzey:
Industrial-grade cardboard tube drums with brief
instructions. ZHANg (aka Jonathan Chang): on altering a
Playskool "Sax-o-fun". Dwin R. Craig: Responds to several
past articles with information and advice on speech
synthesis machines; patents; what can be done with a clear
Polycarbonate Flourescent Lamp Guard by Liteway; and a
description of a single-string bass fiddle. Mugwumps
Instrument Herald, a publication devoted to folk music
instruments of all sorts, revived. DuPont buys Remo
Percussion. All-Wood Bongo made by Puerto Rican
Percussionist Pedro Barriera. Percussion by Roberta Berman
Quinn [additional keywords: xylophones; chordophones;
slit drum; idiophones; mbiras]. EMI a sponsor of the
Musicians and Instrument Makers Forum (www.mimf.com).
Paragraph inadvertantly omitted from Ray Wilding-White's
article "Poeme Electronique: A Building as an Instrument."
Web sites of interest. Sound Sculpture by James
Harbison.
"John Kaizan Neptune and Shakuhachi
Innovation": Monty H. Levenson. 2 pages; 1 photo.
In this first part of a two-part series on J.K. Neptune,
Monty Levenson of Tai Hei Shakuhachi, discusses John's work
with shakuhachi, including shakuhachi making, performance,
and traditional culture. Monty also speaks of his own work,
in collaboration with Neptune and others, in developing
special technology to bring consistently high results at
affordable cost to an instrument known for the elusiveness
of its most desired qualities [additional keywords:
woodwinds].
"Take Dake": J.K. Neptune. 3 pages; 8
photos.
The second of a two-part series, here Neptune discusses his
forays into the creation of an all-bamboo ensemble including
drums, percussion aerophone, free-bar instruments and winds.
There are brief descriptions of Baliphone; Bambass; Bamboo
Drum Kit; Tube Congas; Bamboo Frame Drums; Wind Chimes;
Vduboo, Shakers.
"The "Funny" Music of Neil Feather": John
Berndt. 5+ pages; 6 photos.
After a brief history of Neil Feather's background, Berndt
describes in some detail a few instruments de-of constructed
by Feather, including the Nondo; Former Guitars; Vibulum;
and others.
"Totems of Imagination": Grant Strombeck.
2 pages; 3 photos.
The author muses on the subject of invention, what makes
something art, and the lost spirit of the artless. The
pictures of three of his instruments: the Sound Tree; the
Gong Totem; and Maquette (Dream Harp) accompany his
reflections [additional keywords: metal; bamboo; bells;
wires].
"Plicker Plucker": Text and Drawings by
Robin Goodfellow. 4 pages; 13 drawings; 1 score.
This article, the fourth in a series presenting ideas for
musical instruments simple enough to be made by children,
offers a lesson plan, includes rudimentary principles of
sound, elements of cultural lore, and a score. Here,
Goodfellow describes a rubber-band-and-styrofoam version of
a medieval psaltery, a stringed instrument somewhat similar
to a zither. Also included is "A Children's Instrument For
Observing Quantifiable Tension": An illustrated guide for
making a very simple device using string, a paper cup,
cardboard, and coins to demonstrate quantifiable
tension.
"The One-Footed Drum Kit": Niles
Hokkanen. 6 pages; 13 photos.
The author describes what led him to using midi pedals and
drums to accompany his mandolin, leading to a one-person
band. He describes in great detail the construction of his
unique foot pedal, which allows the player to play an entire
battery of drums and cymbals with one foot alone.
"The Dworkian Register": Q.R. Ghazala. 4
pages; 3 photos.
After describing his interest in 360-degree ambient sound
fields, Reed Ghazala describes his Dworkian Register. The
Dworkian Register is an aleatoric instruments made by
circuit-bending four pressure-sensitive sound strips like
those found in children's books.
"Electromagnetic Possibilities": Paul
Rubenstein. 3 pages; 5 photos.
The author tells how he discovered a world of possibilities
using electromagnetic pickups, and describes some of his
instruments and their custom-designed pickups. Some of those
instruments are: The Viotar, a bowed four-stringed version
of an electric guitar; the Electric Saron, a xylophone-like
gamelan instrument made of industrial surplus steel rods;
M'birangi, a 32 key thumb piano-like instrument; Cellotar,
an improvement on the viotar with 6 strings; and the
Autodrone, a two-stringed bass run by a small motor and used
to drone continuously.
Book Reviews. 1+ pages.
Jason Lollar: Basic Pickup Winding and Complete Guide To
Making Your Own Pickup Winder [additional keywords:
electronmagnetic pickups; coils].
Harvey Rudoff: The Practically Complete Guide To Almost
Real Musical Instruments For Nearly Everyone
Anonymous: The Anonymous Family Reunion.
VOLUME 14 #1,
SEPTEMBER 1998
Letters and Notes. 5 pages; 7 photos; 1
drawing.
Peter Whitehead: Adding a pickup to something does not make
it an instrument. Lon Granger: Neodymium magnets added to
electric guitar strings. Notes: Tonehole placement software
by Glenn Engstrand available on web.Clara Rockmore, theremin
virtuoso, died May 10, 1998 in Manhattan at age 88. Oddmusic
forum moves to www.onelist.com. Glass Music International,
newsletter and festivals contact information. Mariolina
Zitta releases her CD Perle de Grotta: La Musica delle
Stalattiti featuring percussion on cave stalactites. Jason
Gibbs: Ta Thâm, Vietnamese instrument inventor died on
October 19, 1997 in Hanoi at 68 years old.
"Deus es Machina; Fleshtone and the
Godbox Project": Monte Thrasher. 5 pages; 4 drawings.
The author describes his experiments and discoveries in
infrasound (frequencies between 10 and 20Hz) with the
"Godbox". He also examines the occurrence of infrasound in
animal calls, the noises of modern life and primitive
instruments. Finally, he presents a theory of why infrasound
has such a strong affect on the human being.
"The Enigma of Whistling Water Jars in
Pre-Columbian Ceramics": Brian Ransom. 4 pages; 8 pictures;
2 drawings.
This article is a presentation of the author's research on
Peruvian whistling jars. There are two types:
single-chambered, breath-driven whistles and
double-chambered, water-driven whistles. Variation in sound
quality is attained by changes in whistle chamber size,
whistle enclosure, sound hole size and angle of air
delivery. [additional keywords: wind instruments;
ceramics; primitive instruments; whistles].
"Toy Pianos; No Longer Toys!": Margaret
Leng Tan. 5 pages; 6 pictures; 2 drawings; 2 diagrams.
Here the history of the toy piano is traced from its German
origins in the nineteenth century through its life in the
United States. This article is primarily a chronicle of the
production of toy pianos in the United States and includes
information about the evolution of its uses around the
world. Two diagrams explain how the keys function.
[additional keywords: toys; children's instruments;
glockenspiel; glass dulcimer; metallophone; John Cage.]
"Three more from Ángel":
Ángel Sampedro del Río. 3+ pages; 8 pictures;
2 drawings.
The author discusses troubleshooting issues with reeds,
mouthpieces, toneholes, harmonics and bore on his finely
crafted bamboo clarinets, saxophones and ocarinas. He also
gives a history of the influences in his designs.
[additional keywords: Argentina; Argentinean folk
instruments.]
"How to Scramble Your Casio SK-1 Without
Modifications": Walter Funk. 1+ pages.
Looking to extend the functions of your Casio SK-1 sampling
keyboard? The author describes how to access the "warp" mode
with the right combination of buttons.
"MicroPiano-izmo": zHANg. 2+ pages.
This article opens with a few nice quotes on non-traditional
instruments and free improvisation. After giving information
on the toy piano, John Cage and contact microphones, the
author moves on to present his concept for a prepared toy
piano.
"The Icelandic Lithophone": Elias
Davidsson. 3 pages; 3 photos.
The author begins with a history and geography of musical
stones of the world. From his first discovery of a ringing
stone in Iceland, he describes his construction and playing
of lithophones.
"Mellow Lamellaphones": Robin Goodfellow.
5 pages; 9 drawings; 13 diagrams; 1 song.
In her fifth ExMI pedagogical article, the author presents
several ideas for lamellaphones simple enough for children
to make. Construction is clearly illustrated with beautiful
diagrams. Instructions for leading a song with children and
cultural information on various African lamellaphones are
included. Includes bibliography. [additional keywords:
mbira; kalimba; recycled materials.]
"Browsing my Mind, or Dwinstruments I
Have Known": Dwin Craig. 5 pages.
This piece is a humorous list of many short ideas. The
author writes about some uses of speakers as microphones,
uses of integrated circuits for sound, uses of polycarbonate
tubing, straws, clay, pegboard, plumber's epoxy, Velcro,
neon lights and more. [additional keywords: wind
instruments; ASCII.]
VOLUME 14 #2, DECEMBER 1998
Letters and Notes. 9 pages; 6 pictures; 3
drawings.
Judy Dunaway: Compositions for balloon. Uli Wahl:
Aeolsharfen; derWind als Musikant is a very good book about
Aeolian harps. Glenn Engstrand: A list of ExMI relevant
websites. Notes: Patrick Ozzard-Low publishes 21st Century
Orchestral Instruments: Acoustic instruments for alternative
tuning systems. Center for the study of free-reed
instruments has opened: www.gsuc.cuny.edu/freereed/. Two
instruments with pictures from Curtus Settino
[additional keywords: pot lids; galvanized pipe].
Several instruments with pictures from Werner Raditschnig
[additional keywords: aluminum; electro-acoustic
instruments; spatial installation]. Four string
instruments from Peter Head, with pictures. Peter Struble
installs outdoor playground instruments for children in
Austin, Texas.
"A Flute-Clock Caper": Robert Moore. 4+
pages; 2 pictures; 1 diagram.
As a retirement gift for a fellow shop-worker in Canada's
Defense Research Lab, the author and his co-workers built a
flute-clock. This instrument is a small barrel organ and is
not a time keeper. The author describes the research,
planning, construction and mechanics of this cooperatively
build instrument. References to relevant books are
conveniently included. [additional keywords: mechanical
instruments; music-box; organ].
"Hybrid Winds": Linsey Pollak. 4 pages; 5
pictures; 5 diagrams.
The author describes a few of his own wind instruments and
provides information about their background. His instruments
are based mostly on Eastern European folk instruments.
[additional keywords: clarinet; gaida; tarogato; zurna;
suona; ney; kaval; supelka; koauau; fleahole; carrot flute;
rubber gloves]
"Motormouth; A Speaking Machine": Martin
Riches. 4 pages; 1 picture; 2 diagrams.
This article is a follow-up to one from ExMI September 1997
(Volume 13 #1). The author explains the function of a
computer-controlled, mechanical human voice synthesizer he
has developed. He also breaks down the sounding of a word
into the required actions of each component of his
contraption. [additional keywords: phonetics; electric
motors; speech organs; programming]
"Galloping Gamelan": Robin Goodfellow. 4
pages; 4 drawings; 2 songs.
This is the sixth if the author's series on simple
instruments for children and people of all ages. The article
opens with information on Balinese gamelan and goes on to
explain the assembly and application of a gamelan set of tin
cans. Includes a list of websites related to gamelan.
[additional keywords: recycled materials; tuning
systems; Sharon Anway]
"Tank Music": Reed Maxson. 2 pages; 4
pictures.
This article is a short report on the author's musical
activities using custom-welded steel tanks. He created a
string bass using nylon rope and a 2000lb winch and played
with "quasi-automated" components like swinging
saws.
"Hyperbiwa": Jhon Miura Hardy. 3 pages; 4
pictures; 2 drawings.
The author begins by briefly recalling the long history of
the biwa (a family of plucked string instruments) in Japan.
He clearly describes how the various aspects of the
instrument function and how it was traditionally used. His
own modern adaptation of this instrument, the hyperbiwa,
adds internal springs for resonance and uses other
non-traditional materials. [additional keywords:
lute]
"Bamboo and Music; Part 1": Richard
Waters. 4 pages; 8 pictures.
The author surveys some uses of bamboo in world instruments
including genggong (Jew's harp), shakuhachi, musical kites,
batutu, pan pipes and other wind and percussion instruments.
Also included is information on harvesting, curing and
working with the different types of bamboo.
"The Sub-chant Generator": Q.R. Ghazala.
7 pages; 5 pictures; 3 drawings.
Reaching back to the origins of western notation, the author
takes a look at Gregorian chant and chant traditions of the
world. Then he continues with descriptions of his
subliminal-chant generator, which is two voice-synthesizing
ICs that he rewired and organized into one sound-producing
unit. Practical words on how he built his instrument end in
a tantalizing list of resulting sounds. [additional
keywords: circuit bending; electronics; allophones;
phonemes; music history]
ExMI VOLUME 14 #3, MARCH 1999
Letters and Notes. 10 pages; 9 pictures;
21 drawings.
Dwin R. Craig: Amiga computers used for speech synthesis.
René van Peer: Musical interaction with birds. Bash
the Trash: 6 ideas for simply constructed instruments using
recycled materials. Notes: "Music of the streets" by Michael
Colton about car-activated sounds published in The
Washington Post Oct 1 1998. See www.composersforum.org for
info on Harry Partch archives. Pictures and short text of
Jacques Rémus' mechanical-acoustic instrument
[additional keywords: midi; computers]. Information
on cigar box guitars from Shane Speal. Web site list
includes search engine reviews.
"Polymorphous Percussion Construction;
Making Drums out of Everything in Sight": Zeno Okeanos. 6
pages; 19 pictures.
The author recreates percussion instruments of the world
while applying his own ideas and materials. His writing
provides information and background on traditional
instruments such as tumbao, quinto, palito, congas,
shekeres, kettle drums, udu, berimau, cowbells, t'ao ku, and
more, and includes construction notes on his own
modifications.
"The Dolceola; The World's Smallest Grand
Piano": Andy Cohen. 6+ pages; 5 pictures; 1 diagram.
The dolceola is a miniature acoustic keyboard instrument
modeled after a piano that was produced in Toledo, OH at the
beginning of the 20th century. This article is a collection
of historical facts, speculation and information gleaned
from the observation of still existing dolceolas, all of
which are the results of the author's 25 years of
researching the instrument. [additional keywords:
Washington Philips; blues; key action; tuning
systems]
"The New Sax Fingering System": Jim
Schmidt. 3 pages; 6 pictures; 3 drawings.
Using his experience in engineering and machining, the
author has redesigned the fingering system for the
saxophone. This new system is arranged so that each
successive chromatic note lies under each successive finger.
Thus, fingering and transposing are simplified and
extraneous hardware is eliminated. [additional keywords:
Boehm fingering system]
"Paul Panhuysen's Long String
Installations": René van Peer. 8 pages; 10 pictures;
2 drawings.
The author reports on the world of long string instruments
that Paul Panhuysen has developed in roughly 300
installations over more than 15 years. From interviews and
his own observations, the author writes about string
materials, architecture, resonators, tunings, tensions and
playing techniques both human and mechanical. Some words on
Panhuysen's CD "Three Partitas for Long Strings" describe
the technique and results of the recording. [additional
keywords: Pythagoras]
"Laudable Launeddas and Other Reedy
Folk": Robin Goodfellow. 4+ pages; 14 drawings.
This article is the seventh of the author's series on
instruments for children to build. She presents the
interesting and comical lore of the launeddas, which is a
reed instrument from the Italian island of Sardinia. Then
she gives instructions on making a similar idioglot
instrument out of soda straws.
"Aeolian-Bow Kites in China": Mitchell
Clark. 4 pages; 2 pictures; 1 drawing.
This article presents some history and examines the language
related to Chinese Aeolian-bow kites. [additional
keywords: organology]
"Making a Fengqin": Wang Qinian, Wu
Guanghui and Yu Jiming. Translated by Mitchell Clark and
Rene Yung. 1+ pages; 4 drawings.
This is a counterpart to the above article describing how to
make an Aeolian-bow to add to a kite.
"The Homemade Clements Plywood Centennial
Augustus Stroh Violin": Cary Clements. 5 pages; 12 pictures;
4 drawings.
The author opens with some brief history of the Stroh violin
and then guides the reader through the process of building
his own copy.
"Deeper into Fleshtone; Sound Energy
within the Human Body": Monte Thrasher.
This is the second article in a series that began in ExMI
September 1998 Volume 14 #1. The author unveils further
thoughts and inventions related to the human experience of
infrasound and tactile sound or fleshtone. The author's
fantasies mingle with devices such as the Bonefone,
audiotac, Holophonic recording and much more.
[additional keywords: sound sculpture; sirens;
acoustics; patents.]
"Bamboo and Music, Part 2": Richard
Waters. 4 pages; 3 pictures.
This is the second part of an article in EMI December 1998.
The author looks at some different species of bamboo and
their properties and uses. Then he explains various methods
for preserving, curing and working with bamboo.
[additional keywords: wind instruments; stamping drums;
guiro]
VOLUME 14 #4, JUNE 1999
Letters and Notes. 18 pages; 35 pictures;
5 drawings.
Shane W. Speal: B.B. King's Mailbox guitar. Hugh Davies:
Experimental instruments in The New Grove Dictionary of
Musical Instruments. Bob Grawi: Pogo stick bumbass,
infrasound, double bridge harps and thanks. Notes: Report on
the San Francisco State University Sinusoidal sound
exhibition in March and April 1999. David Knott, music
therapist, creates a program teaching homeless youth to
create their own instruments. Alberto Magnin: Building
membrane kalimbas and bamboo idiophone resonators. James
Harbison: A giant rain stick, the Dumpstick, made during
residency at San Francisco Recycling and Transfer Station.
Frank Pahl: Automated door bell instruments. Len Maurer
strings his walking stick to create the versatile Musicane.
Michael Bradke's interactive sound sculptures. Hans
Tschiritsch, theater musician, builds instruments influenced
by the Stroh, hurdy-gurdies, and more. Instruments from
Hungarian maker, Viktor Lois. New instruments and coming CDs
from Les Phônes. A report on Dr. Cecil Adkins' lecture
and performance on 15th-18th century European instrument,
the tromba marina. Richard Johnson's winslaphones combine
various types of mouthpieces and bells to create different
timbres. Bill Reid's steel sound sculptures. Peter Hurney
describes "the cold water shower reaction device".
"Globular Horns": Barry Hall. 4 + pages;
8 pictures; 1 drawing.
The author describes his discovery of a globular horn
disguised as an udu, and then his development on the theme
with globular drum-horns, globular-tubular horns and
globular fiddle-horns. He also untangles some of the
mysterious behaviors of these instruments.
"Freenotes from Richard Cooke": Bart
Hopkin. 4 pages; 10 pictures; 1 drawing.
This is a photo journal of Richard Cooke's percussion bar
instruments with some nice pictures of great instruments and
layout ideas. Notes on the instruments from Bart
Hopkin.
"Journey Through Sand and Flame; A
Ceramic Musical Instrument Maker": Brian Ransom. 4 pages; 12
pictures.
Pictures of beautifully sculpted, ceramic wind, string and
percussion instruments illustrate the ideas and developments
the author writes of.
"The Photosonic Disc": Jacques Dudon. 11
pages; 28 pictures; 2 diagrams.
This article documents the author's extensive work with
light as a sound source. He uses rotating transparent discs
patterned with opaque ink to alternately block and pass
light shining through to a photo electric cell to create
different timbres and pitches. He writes of his many methods
of creating the discs and filtering and modulating their
output. [additional keywords: waveforms; harmonics;
tunings; Fibonacci; fractals; barabarie organ;
sequencing]
"The Cultivated Sculptural": Ela Lamblin.
5 pages; 6 pictures.
The function and design of instruments made from carrots,
bull kelp, bicycles and stones blends with choreography and
dance in this description of the author's work. He and his
spouse are working together to create a new genre of
performance found in the merging of instrument building,
music and dance.
"Beyond the Shaker; Experimental
Instruments and the New Educational Initiatives": John
Bertles. 5+ pages; 2 pictures; 4 diagrams.
Out of his work in elementary schools in New York, the
author presents ideas for cross-curricular applications of
instrument building in the classroom. He opens with some
recent history of arts programs in schools, and what is
needed to meet current requirements. Then he goes deeper
into the connection of instrument building to history,
cultural studies, geology, math, science, literacy and
environmental studies. [additional keywords: finger
piano; pan pipes; recycled materials; notation systems;
acoustics]
"No Unifying Idea in the Work of No One
in Particular": John Berndt. 4+ pages; 7 pictures.
The author runs through a selection of his original
instruments ranging from amplified acoustic experiments to
feedback and circuit bending.
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments
of a Future": Q.R. Ghazala. 9 pages; 16 pictures; 1
drawing.
The author's final article for ExMI is a guide for the
beginning circuit bender wishing to discover worlds of
unintended sounds in toys and other simple sound-making
circuitry. He covers all the tools, supplies and techniques
one needs to embark on this adventure, and includes
illustrative examples of his own instruments.
[additional keywords: switches; potentiometers;
capacitors; photo resistors; solar cells; LEDs; humidity
sensors; body contacts; line outputs]
"Straws in the Wind, or, the Wind in the
Willows": Robin Goodfellow. 5+ pages; 32 drawings.
To complete her pedagogical series in ExMI, the author
presents her pan pipes, slide whistle and oboe made from
soda straws. As always, she includes interesting
instrumental and cultural lore.
"Extra, Extra - Stroh Violins Still Being
Made!!!": Cary Clements. 4 pages; 11 pictures.
The author reports on his research into the making, design,
function and use of two contemporary Stroh spin-offs: the
Burmese Stroh violin and the Transylvanian funnel fiddle.
"Articles We Shoulda Done": Bart Hopkin.
2+ pages.
These last notes from the editor of EMI include some
interesting leads for continued research: novelties from the
Deagan company, slide saxophone patents, John Keeley,
Chinese-Western orchestral instruments, pedal steel guitar
and bell harps.
************************
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