The “Tonal Plexus” – an 844 Button Keyboard
These incredible microtonal MIDI keyboards have 211 keys per octave (normal pianos have 12 keys per octave) and each key can be custom tuned! Read On!
Cheesy Laser Beams Video
Many different laser beam music systems exist. The concept is simple: Break the beam and the beam’s corresponding sound is played. Musical laser systems can vary widely from performance-grade monstrosities to cheesy, plastic, consumer models like this one from The Sharper Image. Read On!
Windchimes: By Music of the Spheres
Music of the Spheres, Inc. is the “Stradivarius of wind chimes.” Handmade out of powder-coated, aluminum alloy tubing, the chimes range in size from the average garden chime to the extraordinary 14-footer. Read On!
Native American Flute Diagram
For those of you who enjoy diagrams, here is a great diagram of the systems in a traditional Native American flute. Read On!
An Odd Instrument: Saltwater and Aluminum
nitro2k01 from Gameboy Genius has a theory: The cupper and aluminum works as a battery, much like the lemon battery taught in physics class. However because of the Al2O3 surface on the aluminum, which is released in an opscillating manner, you get spikes of voltage. This is what creates the sound. Compare it to the bubbles you get when you put a piece of a base metal in acid. Read On!
Tomoring: Springs, Bars, Wires, and Strings
ADACHI Tomomi, an accomplished musician and instrument inventor from Japan, invented this spectacle called the “tomoring.” Springs, bars, wires, and strings are mounted on an acrylic board to be joyfully plucked, bounced, pulled, flicked, scrubbed and otherwise manipulated in any way imaginable! This odd instrument is completely physical (not electronic) with only piezo pickups attached to the body to amplify the sound. Read On!
The Bazaar Sounds of Snow
Jamie Drouin and Lance Olsen have recorded themselves thoughtfully interacting with a plot of snow. Their 2 CD set is entitled “Snow:Field.” CD 1 features the recordings and CD 2 features the “remixes.” The music (if you should call it that) is interesting enough. I’ve had track 07 on loop for about 45 minutes while doing this research and have found the subtle itchy-scratchy sounds to be a very alien but pleasant ambiance. Read On!
Heart Harp from Harps of Lorien
This particular harp is owned by Avi, a master flute maker and musician. “Harps of Lorien is a co-operative business with a mission to provide quality hand-crafted instruments for healing. These instruments are blessed and prayed over in the making, sanding, and finishing. It is in this phase that the beauty and grain of the wood comes alive and finds its voice; and are inscribed with mantras and prayers for peace.” Read On!
High Speed Glass Harp Player!
This guy is an incredible wine glass player. Watch the video and be amazed. Read On!
Water Wind Sculptures
These are magical garden sculptures. Each one is designed to have water pumped through the trunk and out along the leaves. Read On!
The New Revolutionary Turntablism
The iPod Touch, iPhone, and Nintendo DS are the tech generation’s contribution to musical innovation. With the right software, these portable devices can be modified to play virtually any instrument and any effect. Read On!
Gigantic Accordions
If there was such a thing as a portable grand piano, this would be it’s compliment. Read On!
Musical Wood Saws
A standard hand saw can be used to play music! By tweaking/bending the blade in an “S” shape, one can hit the “sweet spot” with a mallet or use a cello bow to make the saw “sing.” The sound produced is very ethereal sounding – like a woman’s high singing voice or a theramin. Read On!