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VOLUME 9 # 1
SEPTEMBER 1993
Letters and Notes: 6 pages; 5 drawings
and 2 photos.
Hugh Davies: Theremin. Warren Burt: Theremin. Blake
Mitchell: Bass Tubulon. Baschet's Flutter Moths. Circus
World Museum in Wisconsin. Darrell De Vore's comments on
kid's toy, 'groan tubes,' Jew's Harps
"Tumbas, Rumba Boxes, and Bamboo Flutes:
Caribbean Instruments by Rupert Lewis": Bart Hopkin. 3
pages; 5 photos.
The first in the series of articles focusing on Jamaican
instruments. This article describes the instrument maker,
Rupert Lewis and his instruments, which consist of tumbas, a
drum similar to the conga, rumba boxes, a large lamellaphone
related to the African mbira and sideblown diatonic flutes.
[Additional keywords: congas, lamellaphones, thumb
pianos, marimbulas]
"The Giant Lamellaphones: A Global
Perspective": Richard Graham. 3 pages; 1 photos and 1
drawing.
This article traces the history and origins of giant
lamellaphones -- bass kalimbas also known as rumba boxes or
marimbulas -- focusing on the development of the instruments
in African and the African diaspora. [Additional
keywords: mbiras, thumb pianos, rumba boxes, marimbulas]
"Music By Mailorder": Mike Hovancsek. 3
pages.
A list of mail order companies specializing in unusual
musical instruments. Makers and companies, rangiong from the
experimental instruments of Q.R. Ghazala and Richard Waters
to the medieval, folk and world instruments of Kelischek
Workshop, Hughes Dulcimer Co. and Lark in the Morning, to
'hard-to-find' animal materials of the Boone Trading Company
are mentioned.
"Of Bowhammers and Palmharps, Conundrums
and Kabalis: Mike Masley's Urboriginal Innovations": L.
Maxwell Taylor. 3 pages; 4 photos.
An article on Michael Masley and his modified world
instruments. His work includes the invention of unique
bowhammers (special string-sounding devices that contrast
greatly with the usual wooden hammers associated with the
Hungarian cimbalom), the Palmharp (an idiophone strung with
rubber bands and metallic strings), the Kabali (a modified
dumbek) and glass panpipes. [Additional keywords: hammer
dulcimers, dumbeks, panpipes]
"The Sound Hunter" Roman Pawlowski. 3
pages; 3 photos and 2 drawings.
The author focuses on the instruments of Martien Groeneveld
of Amsterdam and the influences that the sea, city and
street have on the maker as well as how his instruments
parody conventional ones. Groeneveld's instruments include
the Giant Xylophone, the Sea Machine, the Roof-tile-o-phone,
and the Volkswagen-beetle-harp.
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments:
Vox Insecta": Qubais Reed Ghazala. 3 pages; 3 photos.
This article focuses on an insect-voice synthesizer called
the Vox Insecta that was built to replicate insect sounds.
Also included are details on how it operates and its design
as well as how to construct one yourself and a
classification of insect sounds.
"Systems for Non-Linear Instruments and
Notation" Part Two: Dan Senn. 5 pages; 4 photos, 1 score, 2
tables and 1 diagram.
In part 1 of this article, appearing in the previous issue,
author Dan Senn described some ideas that have been
important to him in sound sculpture work, and and showed how
these ideas manifest themselves in his own work and that of
several other selected sound sculptors. Here in part 2, the
composer and instrument builder gives the background to the
creation of his piece, Scrapercussion #8, by explaining how
finding the materials of instrumentation for the piece
helped formulate his non-linear score. Also included is a
description of the design and workings of some of his sound
sculpture, such as the Four Harpoons, instruments that
incorporate found objects, nylon thread and PVC piping, and
Ten Too Lips, made of threaded rods and metal washers which
ride downward as they spin loosely down along the threads of
the rods. [Additional keywords: sound sculpture, found
objects, fayfer harp, schmoos harp, flutter harp]
"Instruments from the Marx Colony": Bart
Hopkin. 5 pages; 15 photos and pictures.
This article features the Marx Music Company, an
instrument-making company from the early part of the 20th
century. The company's history and a description of their
instruments and designs are featured. Some of the
instruments described are the Marxophone, an autoharp
instrument that incorporates the use of hammers, the
Violin-uke, a wire zither that is strummed as well as bowed,
and the Aqua-Lin, a small zither that incorporates
simultaneous bowing and hammering. [Additional kyewords:
Pik-nik, simplified violin, Elderly
Instruments]
Book Reviews. 3 pages
Margaret Kartomi: On Concepts and Classifications of
Musical Instruments.
Rene van Peer: Interviews with Sound Artists Taking
Part in the festival ECHO.
Jan Rose and Rainer Linz: The Pink Violin: A Portrait of
an Australian Musical Dynasty
VOLUME 9 # 2 DECEMBER
1993
Letters and Notes: 3 pages; 3 photos and
1 diagram.
Gino Robair: brick xylophone. Ivor Darreg 's recent letters.
Andy Cox 's Lamellaphones.
"The 13 Tone Ensemble" and "Just
Intonation Cardboard Bongos": Buzz Kimball. 1 page; 2
photos.
A brief description of a 13 tone tubulon (steel conduit
marimba) and justly tuned cardboard-tubing drums.
[Additional keywords: alternative tunings,
microtonality, found objects, tubulongs,
tubalongs]
"'Sugar Belly' Walker and the Bamboo
Saxophone": Bart Hopkin. 3 pages; 3 photos and 3
drawings.
The second in the series of articles focusing on Jamaican
instruments. This article gives a history and description of
the instrument maker and performer Sugar Belly, and his
Bamboo Saxophone. Also featured is a commentary by a
Hawaiian bamboo saxophone maker, Brian Whittman, and his
creation of the Xaphoon.
"Deagan Organ Chimes": Bart Hopkin. 7
pages; 10 photos and 4 drawings.
An article on the giant metal chimes constructed by J.C.
Deagan and Company. The instruments, that bare a striking
resemblance to the Indonesian bamboo anklung, are described
physically. Their history, starting with their origins in
the early 20th century, is discussed. An account of the
surviving instruments and an important appendix on air
resonance tuning for the chimes is also featured.
"Extended Wind Instruments from Warren
Burt and Brigid Burke": Warren Burt. 2 pages; 7 photos.
The author relates his experiments with extended wind
instruments, using plastic tubing and other components
attached to various wind instruments like the clarinet ,
flute and tin whistle. The instruments result in different
microtonal scales, multiphonics and harmonics that also
require new playing techniques. [Additional keywords:
microtonality, extended techniques]
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments:
The Sound Dungeon": Qubais Reed Ghazala. 4 pages; 3 photos
and 1 diagram.
This article focuses on electro-acoustic spring chambers,
most notably on the author's Sound Dungeon, which is a kind
of spring reverb chamber. Also included are details on how
it operates and its design as well as how to construct one
yourself.
"Relating Timbre and Tuning": Bill
Sethares. 8 pages; 19 diagrams and tables.
A technical article on finding scales for nonharmonic
timbres and timbres for equal tempered scales. Reference is
made to acousticians such as Hemholtz, as well as Plomp and
Levelt, and their explanations of consonance. The author
gives details on calculating dissonance curves and finding
their properties and constructing scales appropriate to
timbre. Details for a Microsoft BASIC program are also
included for calculating dissonance curves. The ideas
discussed in this article were later developed in full in
the author's groundbreaking book, Tuning, Timbre,
Spectrum, Scale, available through the EMI
Amazon-affiliate bookstore on this web site. [Additional
keywords: microtonality, dissonance curves, timbre ]
"Spherical Epoxy Resonators": Drew Pear.
2 Pages; 1 drawing.
The author explains the construction of spherical resonators
made with balloons and epoxy. His materials and equations to
determine the proper diameter of the resonators are shown as
well as a detailed section on the process of application of
epoxy to the balloons. [Additional keywords:
marimbas]
"A Bamboo Organ" and "Electric Una-Fon
Makes Music to Beat the Band": articles reprinted from 'The
Etude' and 'The Electrical Experimenter'. 1 page; 2
pictures.
Two short articles on unusual instruments from early
periodicals. The first is about a bamboo organ in the
Philippines and the second about an early electric keyboard
instrument similar in sound to a pipe organ.
"A 34-Equal Guitar": Larry A. Hanson. 1
page; 1 photo.
A short explanation of Hanson's guitar which has been
refretted to produce the 34-tone equal temperament scale.
The author suggests that this scale offers a good
approximation of just intonation tunings. He explains that
the tuning shines in regards to the use of major/ minor
thirds and modulation to different keys. He details his
tuning of the strings and the naming of new tones.
[Additional keywords: microtonality, equal temperament,
frets, refretting]
Book Reviews. 1 + pages
Will Ditrich: The Mills College Gamelan: Si Darius and Si
Madeleine
Anthony Baines: The Oxford Companion to Musical
Instruments
VOLUME 9 # 3 MARCH 1994
Letters and Notes: 5 pages; 7 photos.
Mike Hovancsek: P.W. Schreck's 'piano harp'. Richard Selman:
Caribbean Marimbula. Don Loweree: Tunnel Resonance. Hugh
Davies: Theremin and Bamboo Organ. Arthur K. Ferris' String
Instruments. Ken Butler's Headboard Grand Piano. Jean-Claude
Chapuis' Glass Instruments. Alex Jordan's House on the
Rock.
"Elemental Mallet Instruments": Jim
Doble. 3 pages; 6 photos and 1 drawing.
The author relates the history of his instruments and how he
went about building them and addressing issues such as
tuning. A description of the percussion instruments follows
focusing on instruments such as the Rockadinda (an
instrument consisting of pieces of stone or old roofing
slate on maple burl) and the Monkey Gong (a propane tank hit
on the tongues to produce two tones). The author also gives
details on wood xylophone construction. [Additional
keywords: marimba]
"The Bamboolin: A Jamaican Idiochord
Zither": Bart Hopkin. 4 pages; 1 photo and 2 drawings.
The third in a series on Jamaican musical instruments. The
bamboolin is a bowed idiochord in which a thin strip is
lifted with two bridges from its bamboo body to produce the
'strings' to bow. Discussed is a history of the creator,
Jonathan Brown, the instrument's materials and bridges, and
a survey of related instruments, such as the Malaysian
keranting, African mvet and the Malagasy valiha. Also
included is information on making idiochords (instruments
whose strings are of a piece with the body of the
instrument, rather than being of separate material): lifting
the fibers, determining the width and thickness of the
string, and techniques for sounding.
"The Benta: An African-Derived Glissed
Idiochord Zither of Eastern Jamaica": Richard Graham. 3
pages; 2 photos and 2 drawings.
This article is about the benta, a traditional glissed
idiochord zither of bamboo (similar to the bamboolin
described above, but much larger and with a very different
playing technique), and the methods to construct and play
one . The author also focuses on the instrument in its
social and cultural context, and provides a thorough
bibliography.
"Report from the Cloud Eight Archive of
Musical Instruments and Fortean Musicology": Davey Williams.
3 pages; 6 drawings.
A sampling of some of the obscure sound devices (actually
non-existent, fanciful, surrealistic and humorous) found in
cataloging the archive of Cloud Eight. Some of those
mentioned are the Sonic Painting Device, the Musical
Hunter's Animal Startling Device and the Drink-Mixing
Hydraulic Harmonicum.
"Two Hardware Store Instruments": Barry
Hall. 2 pages; 3 photos; 1 diagram.
The author relates how to build two simple idiophones from
common items. In the Flower Pot-O-Phone, flowerpots are
mounted on a three-tier frame providing stability and easy
access. In the Washer Chimes, several washers with small
holes drilled in them are hung from wooden bar giving off a
sound similar to Tibetan tingsha cymbals. [Additional
keywords: flowerpots, homemade instruments,
idiophones]
"Environment and Process": Marlin
Halverson. 5 pages; 10 photos; 1 drawing.
This article focuses on the work of artist Mineko Grimmer
and her sound sculpture installations. A description of the
visual and sonic aspects of her ice sculptures with bamboo,
pebbles and wood are given alongside a history of
performances and showings as well as comments on how the
work engages and interacts with the gallery environment.
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments:
Inverters": Qubais Reed Ghazala. 3 pages; 4 photos.
Ghazala discusses two versions of his Inverters, digital
sample boxes that are appropriate for off-trail music
making. A detailed description of the existing instruments
is given as well as information on how the instruments work.
[Additional keywords: digital sampling ]
"Novelty Instruments from the Early Days
at Mussehl & Westphal": Bart Hopkin. 5 pages; 8 photos
and 8 drawings.
An article on Mussehl & Westphal, a musical saw company
of the 1920s. The company's history is given, with
descriptions of some of its other offbeat inventions, such
as the Musical Pitchfork, a one stringed instrument played
with a pick or bow, and the Jazz-O-Nette, a slide whistle.
[Additional keywords: novelty
instruments]
VOLUME 9 # 4 JUNE 1994
Letters: 5 pages; 7 photos and 3
drawings.
Mineko Grimmer: Aeolian Harp story. Michael Meadows:
Conventional instruments. Pete Hurney: Anklung related.
Robin Gill: Dan bau. Ken Lovelett: Nagarra drums. Matthew
Reynolds: Sound chambers. Art Finigan: Mando-Zither-Harp.
Ivor Darreg in Memoriam: Jonathan Glasier, John Chalmers,
Garry Morrison and B. McLaren pay respects.
"Bamboo Brass in the Minahassa": Robert
Boonzajer Floes. 6 pages; 7 photos and 3 drawings.
This article relates how Dutch missionaries in Minahassa, a
part of Sulawesi in Indonesia, simultaneously caused a
collapse of indigenous music and gave rise to the appearance
of imitation brass instruments built in bamboo among the
islanders. There is a focus on various ensembles and
instruments, such as the Korno, Bambu Melulu, Bambu Seng and
simple diatonic instruments. Pitch is discussed as well as
how the instruments are played and what music is performed
and its relation to village life.
"Bill Colvig": Sasha Bogdanowitsch. 4
pages; 11 photos and 1 drawing.
Instrument builder Bill Colvig is famous for igniting the
American Gamelan movement along with composer Lou Harrison.
The author gives the reader Colvig's history and
descriptions of many of his instruments, such as the
Monochord, Standing Harp, Psaltery, a plucked zither and
Suling: PVC constructions modeled after the Indonesian reed
flutes.
"Software-O-Phones: Homemade Software
Instruments": Henry Lowengard. 3 pages; 4 pictures.
An article featuring the creation of experimental software
instruments by using the Commodore Amiga. The author
describes several programs: 1) RGS: A program that paints
sonograms by use of spectral analysis, 2) HARM: a program
that creates sound effects digitally and 3) LYR: a MIDI
controller that acts like an autoharp. [Additional
keywords: computer instruments]
"The Bellatope": Ken Lovelett. 1 page; 1
photo.
The author explains how he accumulated and assembled his
Bellatope, a conglomeration of percussion instruments
arrayed in the shape of an amphitheater. He discusses the
playing of the assemblage, and what it enables him to do.
[Additional keywords: drums, cymbals, bells,
Protocussion]
"Mechanical Instruments: History of an
Obsession": Penelope Mathiesen. 7 pages; 7 pictures.
A history of mechanical music, first focusing on definitions
of terms, then on particular instruments like the barrel
organ (a mechanized pumped organ), various sorts of automata
(figures that play music on actual instruments),
orchestrions (a mechanical devices that play multiple
instruments), as well as musical boxes and player
pianos.
"Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments:
The Video Octavox": Qubais Reed Ghazala. 5 pages; 3 photos
and 1 picture.
An article focusing on musical automata with a major example
in Tippoo's Tiger, an east Indian sound-making artifact in
the shape of a tiger eating a man. Ghazala gives reference
to other known automatic musical instruments, and then
focuses on one of his own, the Video Octavox, which uses
video tapes to trigger photo-cells which activate eight
oscillators.
"Notes on Custom Pickup Winding and the
Quest for Resonance": Steve Ball. 3 pages; 6 photos.
An article on electromagnetic pickups and the process of
building custom ones. The focus is on the author's
instruments, the Industrial-Strength Dulcimer and Elation
Instiller, which are stringed instruments with pickups. In
the follow-up article to this one, appearing in the next
issue (EMI Volume 10 #1, Sept. 1994), the author gives
detailed how-to for constructing your own electromagnetic
pickup.
"A Piano for Invalids" and "Dream of a
Salesman". Reprinted from The Etude magazine,
probably early 20th century.
Reprints of two very brief articles taken from a now-defunct
music magazine. One describes a piano keyboard somehow
positioned over a bed for convenient playing while
reclining; the other describes a multiple violin bow which,
in conjunction with a modified bridge on the violin, allows
the player to sound all four strings at once.
Book Reviews. 1/2 page
Christine Armengaud: La Musique Verte: Appeaux, Sifflets,
Crecelles
************************
VOLUME
10 #1, SEPTEMBER 1994
Letters
and Notes. 3 pages; 1 drawing.
C. Reider: Electronic signals made by the brain, compact
disc as instrument [additional keywords: cochlear
implant; destroyed compact discs]. Jeff Kassel: mouth
music [additional keywords: membranophones/aerophones;
idiophones]. Francois Baschet: technical drawing and
directions for simple water whistles. Mitchell Clark on
Tippoo's Tiger by Mildred Archer. Information on Memorial
Fund and Collected writings by microtonal theorist Ivor
Darreg. Musica Getutscht by Sebastion Virdung in 1511
covers early work on instruments in Europe. Theremins still
available through Bob Moog. Radio show on unusual sound: One
Tone, Two Tones, Overtones on Canadian Broadcasting System.
Bill & Mary Buchen with book: Urban Sound Park Design
and video: Sounds (Like India) [additional keywords:
Sonic Architecture; automatic temple bells; prayer wheels;
cows]. Leon Gruenbaum & The Samchillean Tip Tip Tip
Cheeepeeeee keyboard.
"Fire
Music": Introduction Bart Hopkin. 1 page; 1 drawing.
A brief description of how to build a fire organ using flame
(propane torch) and glass tube(s) and why it creates sound;
scientific help from Donald Hall; brief bibliography. This
article, with additional materials, can be viewed on EMI's
web site (http://www.windworld.com/emi). [additional
keywords: pyrophones].
"Michel
Moglia's Fire Organ": Etiye Dimma Poulsen. 1 page; 2
photos.
A brief description of the Fire Organ, an instrument
consisting of 250-300 open-ended stainless steel tubes
played by placing a propane torch in one end; contrasts
Moglia's Fire Organ with other pyrophones .This and the
following articles, with other additional materials, can be
viewed on EMI's web site (http://www.windworld.com/emi).
[additional keywords: aleatoric effects; untempered
octaves; thermal chants].
"Michel
Moglia's Thermal Chants: The Infinite Vibration of The
Flame, of Time and Life...": Michel Moglia (Translation
Etiye Dimma Poulsen). 1/2 page.
In connection with the previous article, a brief description
of Moglia's philosophy behind Thermal Chants and his wish to
stretch outside our cultural system [additional keyword:
Chance; Randomness].
"Trimpin":
Trimpin. 1/2 page.
Trimpin gives a short account of his attempts to use flames
with his Charged Piano and Fire Organ (a pyrophone, not to
be confused with that of M.Moglia). [additional
keywords: electromagnet; aural/visual effects of
flames].
"Playing
With Pyrophones": Norman Andersen. 3 pages; 6 photos; 1
drawing.
Andersen outlines his experiments building pyrophones,
including his own Siren, with many kitchen and gas
appliances [additional keywords: glass
harmonicas].
"More
on The Deagan Chimes and My Father's Stone Chimes, Too" by
Ellen Schultze. 2 1/2 pages; 3 photos; 1 drawing.
In a follow-up to article on the Deagan Organ Chimes article
in December 1993 issue, Ellen chronicles her experiences as
a child hearing Reverend Alley's Triple Octave Shaker Chimes
and her subsequent 48-year search for them and for Deagan
Organ Chimes. Also included: and a description of her
father's (James F. Cooper) Singing Stones, which are used to
perform traditional Christian songs [additional
keywords: vibraphones; marimbas; lithophones, American Bell
Association].
"Aeolian
Harps" by Sasha Bogdanowitsch. 2 1/2 pages; 3 photos; 2
drawings.
In this 1st part of a series, this article serves as a
preface to the articles that follow by John Oughton and Ros
Bandt, and others. Bogdanowitsch gives the primarily Western
historical account of Aeolian Harps. Cited by Homer in 800
B.C. as deriving from the sound of wind blowing on dried
animal entrails and later popular in Germany in the 1800s.
Wind sounds the harmonics of the fundamental notes that the
strings are tuned to. Also a brief description of
Bogdanowitsch's own version, the Ski Harp [additional
keywords: wind zither].
"The
Story of Aeolian Harps": John Oughton. 2 pages; 1 photo; 2
diagrams.
After a short outline of which harmonics will sound and
which fundamentals will not, Oughton gives an account of
materials, assembly instructions, and advice on how to place
aeolian harps for optimum sound/volume [additional
keywords: aliquot parts; wind harp].
"The
Aeolian Harps: Ancient Roots" by Ros Bandt. 1 1/2 pages; 2
photos; 1 diagram.
Bandt
describes her goals and the making of a wind harp --
actually comprised of six subsidiary harps -- at Redcliffs
in Victoria, Austria [additional keywords; wind harp;
zither; pentatonic, double-unison strings].
"The
McLean Mix Muses upon the Ultimate Musical Instrument" by
Priscilla & Barton McLean. 4 pages; 5 photos.
The McLeans describe their evolution as composers, beginning
with analog synthesizers, incorporating nature sounds, and
finally bridging the two with their own invented instruments
(i.e. The Amplified & Processed Bicycle Wheel; The
Clariflute; Glacial Rocks; and The Sparkling Light Console)
which they describe in some detail [additional keywords:
Synthi 100 Synthesizer; whale music; Gagaku
ensemble].
"Electro
Magnetic Pickup Design and Construction Techniques" by Steve
Ball. 4 1/2 pages; 8 photos; 4 diagrams.
In conjunction with a previous article (EMI Vol. 9#4, June
1994) summarizing Ball's experiences designing and building
electromagnetic pickups for stringed instruments, this
article outlines in great detail the construction of a
dual-coil, or "humbucking" pickup [additional keywords:
guitar pickups].
"The
Qing Lithophones of China" by Mitchell Clark. 7 pages; 5
photos; 3 drawings.
A thorough historical account and description beginning with
the Shang and Zhou periods through to the Qing Dynasty and
finally to present attempts to preserve the tradition of
these stone instruments. Mentions shapes, materials, ritual
usage, references in texts, extensive footnotes and
bibliography [additional keywords: goong lu;
chalcophonos; bayin; zhong bells].
"Activities
To Date at ASFi Music Works" by Colin Hinz. 5 pages; 9
photos.
Hinz names and describes some compositional techniques and
his own (anti)musical devices, some (i.e. The Rotary Club;
Turntable One) incorporating Meccanion parts (the European
and Canadian name for what in the U.S. is called Erector
Set). Among his inventions are The Scrampler, an altered
Casio SK-1, The Piandemonium, which utilizes hand-built
electronics to strike a sequence of 4096 notes of equal
duration on a "harp" made of the insides of a piano, and a
Christian Marclay-inspired experiment, cutting and
reassembling pieces of vinyl to make tortured, but playable
(barely) records. [additional keywords: Mecanno set;
electrocageism; cyberserialism;
AudioSteriser].
"A
Short Introduction To The Bambuso Sonoro": Hans van Koolwijk
(Translated by John Lydon). 1 1/2 pages; 2 photos.
The Bambuso Sonoro is an instrument comprised of more than
one hundred flutes, some of them very long, controlled by
variable wind pressure generated by a ventilator that feeds
various chambers. With an incredibly broad harmonic
spectrum, capable of producing single, thin tones and an
enormous mass of sound, it also causes chance subsidiary
sounds, rhythmic patterns, and glissandos [additional
keywords: bamboo, bird flutes; glissando
flutes].
VOLUME
10 #2, DECEMBER 1994
Letters
and Notes. 4 pages. 6 photos.
Pete Hurney: Wooden Congas. F. Baschet: Historical Notes on
Chemical Harmonica [additional keywords: Flame Organ;
Harmonica Thermique/Chimique]. Steve Ball:
Stress-relieving metal strap instrument. Marion B. Cox &
Ellen Schultze meet for a Deagan Organ Chime Duet. William
Steinmayer and The FlamePhone, The Electroman Flame Speaker;
booklet available on The Flame Speaker. 64 tuned bronze
bells, stone chimes (qing), zithers, and drums discovered
with Marquis Yi's tomb (5th Century Chenese Ruler). Grant
Strombeck with photos and brief explanations of 3 invented
instruments [additional keywords: Flexy protuberance;
The Orb]. Jonathan Purcell and Wave Access' Wave Rider:
a system for translating brainwaves and electrical impulses
into music. Ros Bandt's booklet, Creative Approaches to
Interactive Technology in Sound Art available on Deakin
Press.
"Aeolian
Harps: One Person's Experience": Tom Pearce. 2 pages; 5
photos; 1 drawing.
Pearce theorizes on the multiplicity of goals and variables
inherent in building an aeolian harp and suggests variables
with which he has had the most success. Suggests number and
kind of strings, shape of sound box, type of wood, vanes,
and location.
"Some
Techniques For Amplifying Wind Harps": Richard Lerman. 4
pages; 8 diagrams/ technical drawings.
An investigation into the amplification of micro-sounds of
the natural world with a piezo electric disks led to
exploring wind harp potentials. Site-specific wind harps in
Newfoundland, Japan, Peru, and California. With rather
thorough directions on how to use piezo disks for wind harps
and natural elements.
"Nature
Sounds Recording and Use": Catherine Girardeau. 1 1/2
pages.
Second in a series on nature sounds, Girardeau seeks meaning
in the rising popularity of natural sound at California
Library of Natural Sounds (CLNS), linking it to sense of
place, ecological concerns, psychoacoustics, and John Cage's
theories of accidental conjunction and found composition.
Emphasis placed on Bernard Krause's "Niche Hypothesis,"
which concentrates not on individual sounds but rather an
environmental orchestra, as among other things, an
acoustical message about the habitat's biological health.
Includes Resource list [additional keywords:
bioacoustics; Douglas Quin, Paul Matzner].
"For
Paul Panhuysen: On His 60th Birthday, August 21, 1994":
Douglas Quin. 1 1/2 pages.
After a brief description of environment and discussion of
ecological concerns resembling a journal entry, Quin
recounts a trek for ambient nature sound in Amazonas,
Brazil. The destination being a NASA observatory now in
control by INPA National Institute For Amazon Research
[additional keywords: ambient recordings; Minimum
Critical Size of Ecosystems Project; World Wildlife
Fund].
"Natural
Wind Chimes": Steve Heitzeg. 2 pages; 5 photos; 1
drawing.
An essay in which Heitzeg rejects the duality and consequent
division of self and nature and emphasizes the
inter-connectedness of the two. His wind chimes made of
natural materials are featured.
"The
Morphium and Strange Earth Voices": Qubais Reed Ghazala. 5
1/2 pages; 2 photos; 5 engravings.
After a brief preliminary discussion of mysterious Earth
noises, Ghazala describes his Morphium. The Morphium is an
aleatoric electric instrument made by circuit-bending a
children's toy with animal and railroad track sounds
[additional keywords: mistpouffers; Barisal Guns; Moodus
noises; meteor sounds; sample banks; conductive flesh
contacts; potentiometers, variable
resistors].
"Metallophone
Construction": Bill Colvig. 2 pages; 1 photos; 2
diagrams.
A companion piece to both an article on Colvig's instruments
in June 1994 issue and a short history of metallophones that
follows. Here, Colvig gives a very brief history of tubular
metallophones, before giving instructions for a simple
metallophone using electrical steel tubing. He briefly
discusses various scales with accompanying measurements
[additional keywords: fang-hsiang; diatonic scales;
tetrachord tone patterns].
"Tubulonia":
Bart Hopkin. 4 1/2 pages; 2 drawings; 1 diagrams.
After a brief history of metal tubular chimes, mostly
focusing on intonational explorations of the 1970s and the
variations built by Lou Harrison and Bill Colvig, Erv
Wilson, and others, the article focuses on general
considerations in design and construction, including:
choosing tubing material, tubing dimensions and proportions,
tuning methods, ways of increasing volume, and mounting
techniques [additional keywords: tubaphones; J.C.
Deagan; microtonalists; tubulongs; oscilloscopes; 13th
Harmonic/Indonesian Pelog Scale].
Book
Reviews. 1 1/2 pages.
David Doty: The Just Intonation Primer
[additional keywords: tuning theory].
Ralph David Hill: Sounds of Just Intonation: Introduction
to Nontraditional Harmony [additional keywords:
aural effects].
"The
Experimental Sound Studio Invented Instruments Ensemble":
Hal Rammel. 3 pages; 5 photos.
A brief description of Chicago's Experimental Sound Studio.
Started in workshops in 1990, the emphasis is on designing,
building, and playing unique acoustic sound sources using
recycled and found materials. Includes brief descriptions of
instruments used for a performance in 1993 [additional
keywords: graphic notation].
VOLUME
10 #3, MARCH 1995
Letters
and Notes. 3 pages; 1 photo; 1 diagram.
Ellen Schultze: The list of Deagan Organ Chimes keeps
growing. Classic book of homemade instruments, Sound
Designs, available again. Mandala percussion: new mail order
catalog of unusual or hard to find instruments. String
master software available, used for string scaling. Ernst
Zacharias' Tunable Jaw Harp. Ken Wisecup's One String Bass
and The Cedar Shop.
"The
Alfalfa Viola": Hal Rammel. 1 page; 1 diagram.
A short description of George C. Haium's rustic Alfalfa
Viola: a single-string three-tined pitchfork with lard can
and cigar box resonators, built in the 1920s.
"The
Apache Violin: An Ancient Instrument Moves Into a New
Century": Chesley Goseyun Wilson, Ruth Longcor-Harnisch
Wilson, & Bryan Burton. 4 pages; 4 photos; 2
diagrams.
An account of the origins of the Tsii'edo'a'tl, or Apache
Violin, a cylindrical section of agave plant with one string
said to sound like a cross between a flute and dulcimer.
With simple building instructions and description of
dimensions and characteristics, its use in ceremonial songs
and healing rituals from one of the finest builders, Chesley
Goseyun Wilson [additional keywords: chengni; ki'zh
ki'zh di hi; pitch bending].
"More
Tubulonia: Conduit": Stephan Golovnin. 1 3/4 pages; 6
drawings.
Following the more basic article in EMI December 1994 on
Tubulongs, Golovnin gives instructions and advice on his
conduit Marimbas including his "Kreteg Layang."
"Fork
Chimes and Everly Chimes": Bart Hopkin. 2 1/4 pages; 4
drawings.
A description and basic instructions for Everly Chimes, a
single metal tube with two fundamental tones and a desired
'beating' affect; and Fork Chimes: a single chime that
produces a rainbow of tones [additional keywords:
directional rigidity differential;
tubulongs].
"Tube
Instruments": Daniel Schmidt. 1 1/2 pages; 1 drawing.
Schmidt makes some suggestions to control 'beating', his use
of 6061 alloy aluminum, and discusses unpredictable
overtones [additional keywords: EMT/electrical
conduit].
"The
Wind Enters The Strings: Poetry and Poetics of Aeolian Qin":
Mitchell Clark. 3 1/2 pages; 1 photo; 4 drawings.
An essay, citing poems from as far back as 223 AD, on the
Chinese qin zither, and the Chinese poetic tradition of
qin-qi-shi-shu-hua, in which he has found several references
to the instrument being sounded by the wind alone. With
notes, including sources [additional keywords:
fengzheng; zithers; quqin; shang; feng ru;
hui].
"The
Flame Componium and Reflections on the Pyrophone": Qubais
Reed Ghazala. 6 1/2 pages; 9 drawings/engravings.
After a brief discussion of various sound-sensitive
pyrophones built around the turn of the century, Reed
Ghazala goes on to propose his imaginary Flame Componium and
Pyrotechnic Color Organ, both devices that would react
visually to sound occurring around them [additional
keywords: manometric flames; chemical harmonicas; sensitive
flames; musical flames].
"The
Banjo King": Frank Holmfield. 3 pages; 9 drawings/graphic
reproductions.
Part of EMI's ongoing series of reprinted early magazine
articles, this article published in 1901 tells the tale of a
South African, Mr. Franco Piper, heralded as the King of
Banjoists for his ability to juggle four banjos and play
them simultaneously so as to create an affect not unlike
church bells.
"Bamboo:
The Giant Musical Grass": Richard Waters. 3 pages; 2
graphics.
In this 1st of 3 articles on Bamboo, Waters lists species
and characteristics of bamboo utilized in instrument design
as well as giving some advice on growing bamboo
[bambusas; American Bamboo Society].
"The
Sound Merchant": John Herron. 1/2 page; 2 photos.
Instructions and description of the Singing Pot Lid Tree, an
instrument consisting of a set of aluminum pot lids mounted
on an aluminum tube played by bowing with a violin or bass
bow. It can be amplified with a microphone and the sound may
be enhanced with electronic effects [glass
harmonica].
"Sound
Symposium 7: Field Report": Tom Nunn. 1 1/2 pages.
Tom Nunn describes his experience at the 7th Sound Symposium
at St. John's, Newfoundland [additional keywords: music
festivals].
VOLUME
10 #4, JUNE 1995
Letters
and Notes. 3 pages; 1 photo; 13 drawings.
Richard Waters: Comments on unidentified Earth sounds. The
blending of clear pitch and unpitched noise [additional
keywords: noise]. Deagan Triple Toned Golden Chimes and
Mr. P. Waldo Davis. Helmholtz resonator; amphora. Ivor
Darreg's Detwelvuvate. Making Simple Musical Instruments by
Bart Hopkin available through Lark Books.
"Nature
on Record": Rene van Peer. 3 pages.
Part 1 in a series, this essay focuses primarily on
recordings of bird sounds as well as making mention of
recordings of frogs and insects. Includes
discography.
"Augustus
Stroh and the Famous Stroh Violin or The Inventors of
Abnormalities in the Field of Violin-Building Have Not Yet
Become Extinct": Cary Clements. 7 1/2 pages; 10 photos; 5
drawings.
A thorough historical account of the inventions of Augustus
Stroh, focusing on his most famous instrument, a violin with
an aluminum diaphragm and large trumpet horn to amplify it.
Gives a brief description of early recording techniques at
the turn of the century as well as his ventures with phono-
and telegraphs [additional keywords: concertina; high
speed telegraph; tinfoil phonograph;
phonofiddle].
"Call
For The Hidden Sounds": Johannes Bergmark. 6 1/2 pages; 17
pages.
Bergmark describes many of his invented instruments and
theorizes about the inadequacy of most 'composed music,'
calling for a more random, unpredictable process.
[Additional keywords: butter bass; forked silver tongue;
hedgehog; double trumpet; finger violin].
"Crow-Quill
and 'Cat'-Gut: The Lautenwerk and Its Reconstruction":
Mitchell Clark. 1+ pages.
A brief description and historical background of the
Lautenwerk, or "lute-harpsichord,' an offshoot of the
harpsichord in which the utilized strings are made of gut.
Clark also reviews two recent recordings which use
reconstructed versions and which include a few pieces by
J.S. Bach, who was known to have owned examples of this
instrument [additional keywords: Kim Heindel; Gergely
Sarkozy]
"Miscellany":
Bart Hopkin. 1 1/2 pages; 2 photos; 2 drawings.
A presentation of notes, advice, and observations on
twist-tuning: a technique especially suitable for harps and
lyres wherein a single string is doubled back on itself, and
held together at the tuning end by a cross-piece or yoke,
and twisted to form in effect a single wound-together string
which can be tuned by twisting more or less
[overwinding; styro-harp].
"Speed
Bump Music (The Work of Tim Buckett)": Mike Hovancsek. 1
page.
An introduction to the work of sound sculptor Tim Buckett in
a brief description of one of his ideas: speed bump music.
This would be made by arranging the sounds created by wheels
going over speed bumps.
Book
Reviews. 2 pages.
Claire Jones: Making Music: Musical Instruments in
Zimbabwe Past and Present [additional keywords:
idiophones; marimbas; Shona Chizambe].
David Hogan Smith: Reed Design For Early Woodwinds
[additional keywords: shawm; curtal; crummhorn].
Martin Vogel: On The Relations of Tone
[additional keywords: intonational theory; graphic
symbols/notation; frequency ratios].
"Hunting
Down A New Sound: Modified Game Calls and Predator Calls":
Jonathan Chang. 1 page.
The author describes the oft overlooked sonic source of game
and predator calls, very similar to reed instruments, and
ways to modify them [additional keywords: shawm;
oboe].
"Circuit
Bending & Living Instruments: The Trigon Incantor":
Qubais Reed Ghazala. 5 1/2 pages; 6 photos. 3 drawings.
After a brief preliminary discussion of the beauty of chance
and the rhythm of trains on tracks, Reed Ghazala goes on the
describe his Trigon Incantor (see his article on the
Incantor in EMI September 1992). The Trigon Incantor is an
aleatoric electronic instrument made by deliberately
applying random pressure using 2" steel balls to the surface
of the electronic children's toy Touch and Tell. He also
describes his manipulation of a piano which he refers to as
the harmonic mute system, which creates harmonic overtones
not unlike Cage's prepared pianos [additional keywords:
indeterminacy; Speak & Spell; human voice
synthesizers].
"Bamboo:
The Giant Musical Grass": Richard Waters. 3 pages; 1 photo;
1 drawing.
The 2nd of 3 articles on bamboo, the 1st of which deals with
species of bamboo and the 3rd of which deals with musical
uses for bamboo. In this one Waters discusses optimum
growing conditions, propagation, and ways of harvesting and
curing.
*******************************
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