Sonic SLOrk Sculptures

The all-new Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk) presents an afternoon of music and sonic installations performances, among the statues and under the canopy of the New Guinea Sculpture Garden at Stanford University. This first-ever outdoor laptop orchestra concert features works by members of CCRMA/SLOrk, Scott Smallwood, Perry Cook, Dan Trueman, and SLOrk director Ge Wang.

WHEN: Saturday, April 26, 2008
WHERE: New Guinea Sculpture Garden, Stanford Campus, Palo Alto, CA
WHEN: 3pm
Admission: FREE

DETAILS:
New Guinea Sculpture Garden
450 Santa Teresa St
Stanford, CA 94305

For more info, a full updated concert calendar and a map please visit:
http://slork.stanford.edu/
http://ccrma.stanford.edu/concerts/c_schedule.html

How Precolumbian Whistling Jars Work

I found this fantastica article on pre-Columbia whistling jars on the ceramic musical instruments yahoo group. This article, by Brian Ransom explains how the jars are built and how they function. I've never seen or heard one, but now I am very curious.



Link: http://home.eckerd.edu/~ransombc/enigmaofwhistlingwaterjars.htm

Downstream Hang Meditations

Here's a really nice video with Hang Drum played from the CD "Hang Meditations" by Pete Barnhart and Ron Kravitz on Digital Alchemy Music www.damusic.biz

Musical Furnishings Percussion Table

Here's a super cool new product from Musical Furnishings. It's a musical table with interchangable instrument panels. It's called the Rumba Series. It's available in 4 sizes (2x2, 2x4, 3x3, 4x4). Prices range from $800 to $2900.



Link: http://www.musicalfurnishings.com/

Handmade cardboard Uke

Here's a great how-to article about how to create a cardboard ukulele.
Link: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/12/hand_sewn_cardboard_uke.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

Comparison of 2008 Hang Drum to prior years

The Hangblog has an excellent entry describing the differences between different model years of the Hang Drum from Panart.



Link: http://www.hangblog.org/2008/03/10/the-integral-hang-meets-its-siblings/#more-53

Video: Integral Hang Drum

Here's a recent video of the 2008 Hang Drum model from Panart. This video provides you with a 'tour' of all of the sounds possible from this instrument.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNx2Z4bFD-s

Hangout UK 2008 announced

Hangout UK 2008, is a gathering of Hang enthusiasts in the UK

When: 19th - 21st September 2008
Where: Mellow Farm, Farnham, UK
Cost: 20 pounds (sorry, don't know how to get a british pound symbol on my computer...)


The event will include workshops and concerts.


Link: http://www.hangoutuk.co.uk/

Blackbells Astral Hang Drum

Blackbells now has more information up on their website about their first limited edition Hang Drum model to be offered. It's called the "Astral". They haven't yet decided on the tuning which will be offered, and from all information available, it looks like the scales offered on the Astral will be limited.

It appears that this first model is going to be more about scaling production and getting all of their production kinks and tuning methodology worked out. Thus the limited scales offered.

The Good News:

Looks like they are ready to start taking deposits on the first ones to be produced. Cost will be $3000, give or take a little. You must be on the waiting list to be offered one, so if you have any interest, best to get on the waiting list. When I joined the waiting list in January, there were 200 or so ahead of me. I have no idea what the list looks like now, but you'll need to submit a form on the website to get on the list.

I have to admit that $3000 can buy a lot of instruments... I could buy a pretty sweet Martin guitar for that price... so it still seems a bit pricey. That and the fact that I haven't received spousal approval yet for this.

They are suggesting that it will be about a 3 month wait from the time your deposit is received.

Spike Fiddles by Peter Biffin

I recently stumbled in this new design of a spike fiddle by Australian, Peter Biffin. A spike fiddle is a relative of the modern violin. It includes four or five strings, and has a range similar to that of the violin.

The Tarhu is a new form of spike fiddle, created by instrument maker and musician Peter Biffin. The tarhu design uses a unique acoustic system, where the string’s vibrations are transferred to a featherweight wooden cone suspended within the wooden body. This design creates extremely sensitive instruments with an unprecedented range of tone colour variations. The efficiency of the cone system has also given these instruments a very large dynamic range

Unlike the violin, it is played by balancing it on a spike on the floor or the players lap. And, instead of moving the bow to change strings like with the violin, the spike fiddle is rotated on the spike and the player keeps the bow at the same angle

I find the sound from these instruments to be incredibly beautiful, and these instruments made by Peter Biffen to have amazing craftsmanship. They're not cheap, but I can imagine that they are a wonderful investment.

Peter some some great sound samples on his website, be sure to check them out, in order to hear the range and sound color of these instruments.


Peter makes several styles:



Long-neck Tarhu

Has four played strings and 8 sympathetic strings. It comes with tied frets, which enable a vast range of tunings, including modern/western tunings to microtonal middle eastern tunings. Be sure to listen to all of the sound files which demonstrate the range of this instruments in both a bowed an plucked playing style.




Kemanche Tarhu


This four stringed instrument is based on the traditional kemanche. But it looks like Peter has improved on the design and sound quality substantially.







Lyra Tarhu

This three string instrument is based on the traditional Cretan Lyra.






Tarhui

This is Peter's unique design. You gotta listen to the sound sample to appreciate what this instrument can do.



To really understand and appreciate the design enhancements which Peter has made here, you need to visit the design page on the website:

Link: http://www.spikefiddle.com/

Get your Google Moon 2.0 Xprise T-Shirt

OK, admittedly, this has nothing to do with music, but I am space fan and the Google Lunar Xprise is just too cool of an idea not to spread the word around. They announced the first 10 participants in the race this week. Now you can purchase this t-shirt to show your support for the event.

Since our government seems to have little interest in returning to the moon anytime soon, I applaud the Xprise folks for setting up this competition to inspire a new generation of engineers to get to the moon.

Another great Hang Video

Great Hang Video

Muxicall

This is found music at it's best. I stumbled on to a new online flash music project called Muxicall.
Basically, it's an interactive music sound board that has the notes organized in a very interesting way. By clicking with your mouse, you make music.

In addition, it's also a shared music space, so that as other users login and play with it, you all make music together.

Check it out at: http://www.muxicall.com/

New "Oscar" Hank-like Drum from Tribal Thunder

Tribal Thunder has produced a Hank-Drum derived instrument. Each drum has 6 notes, in a pentatonic scale. It looks like they are possibly welding the tops of two propane tanks together to make a much shorter (about 9" tall) and easier to handle drum. I really think that they have done a great job developing this instrument. The paint colors are awesome. You can play it with either your hands or mallets.

Cost is $400.

Links:

http://www.tribalthunder.com/drums.htm

http://www.tribalthunder.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=155&g2_GALLERYSID=28d5b88202349578a97e71115db88ad1

Hang Music Site

Here's a couple of fun Hang Music sites:

• http://www.hangdrum-music.com/
  
• http://www.gothang.com/

50th Anniversary of Legos

Google had this awesome image up on their search window this morning, reminding us that today is the 50th anniversary of Legos (or rather the 50th anniversary of the patent) ! I know that I've spent a considerable amount of my early life, and now with my kids, being inspired by Legos. Congratulations Legos!

Related Links:

http://parents.lego.com/Features/50th%20Birthday.aspx

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/28/legos-50th-anniversa.html

http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/01/50th-anniversar.html

http://gizmodo.com/349509/lego-brick-timeline-50-years-of-building-frenzy-and-curiosities

Blackbells Website is LIVE

The Blackbells company is a new company who are bringing a new version of the Hang Drum to market. Their site is now live and features a really lush flash intro. You gotta check it out.

They are taking orders for their waiting list now and it looks like it will be something like 3 months to receive a drum. I wrote to the company and recieved the following email in response to my inquiry:

"Thank you for your interest in BlackBells.com, and we apologize for the delay in getting back to you. Currently, we do not have a specified price range. However, we are expecting a release date of around Q1 of 2008. Availability will largely depend on demand, and currently we have a waiting list of roughly 100 customers, and some of those have ordered more than one. We anticipate a typical wait time for new orders to be roughly 3-6 months, and of course, we are looking to shorten that time without compromising quality.

What can we tell you about our instruments? Well, we have approached it as a bell, which we believe it truly is. All of our instruments will be made with the highest quality materials, and will come with a certified print out of tuning accuracy. We are experimenting with various hardening procedures, but do know that playing over the years will render the instrument out of tune. As a result, we are aware that we need to offer some sort of tuning service for our customers. We are working on those logistics as we speak.

If you would like to get on our waiting list, we request that you send us an email and include the following information:

Full Name

Shipping address (we will confirm this before shipping)

A phone number we can reach you at

Valid email address

Nature of request (number of instruments, etc.)

The process will work as follows:

When we are ready to provide your instrument, we will contact you and describe the opportunity, discuss payment arrangements, etc. If you are not able to purchase the instrument, we will go to the next in line and your name will have to go to the bottom of the list. When we ship, we will ship certified, and insured for full amount – no exceptions.

We are very excited about providing you with a high quality instrument, and appreciate your interest in and support of BlackBells.com

Note that there is now an online form which you can complete to get on the waiting list!

If you have any interest in getting your hands on a Hang-style drum, this looks like a great opportunity.

It appears that Blackbells will push new limits with the Hang-style drums. They are looking at new ways of creating and tuning the instrument, as well as new designs. Who ever said competition isn't good for the market? ;-)

They are also going to be offering services including a 'retuning' service for your Blackbells drum over time. It looks like they are serious about their "whole product" delivery, and I applaud that.

If you want to get whipped into a frenzy, checkout their online forum: http://www.blackbells.com/forum


Here's the website link: http://www.blackbells.com/

How to Build a Hank Drum

Over the holidays, I had some down time to finally build a new "Hank Drum" based on the plans by Dennis Havlena. Here's a link to the plans: http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/for-webpage-lp-hang.htm


I've been in love with the Hang Drum, but alas, I haven't been able to find an affordable one to purchase yet (but you can read more about that adventure on my other posts).


Here's the story about my creation process in building my own Hank Drum.


Step 1: Purchase a brand new 20 lb propane tank. NOTE: like Dennis recommends, ONLY USE A NEW NEVER BEEN FILLED TANK.





Step 2: Remove the value. I released the air pressure inside the tank with a screw driver by turning the screw on the side of the valve. Then I used a large adjustable wrench and some leverage to move it. This will take some strength and possibly addition help to hold the drum and turn the wrench. In the picture, you'll see how I secure the drum with a crowbar.



Step 3: Remove the bracket from the bottom of the tank. This will become the playing surface of the drum. I used a 10" adjustable (monkey) wrench, tightened to the dimension of the metal on the bracket. I then worked it back and forth over each weld until the bracket broke free. After breaking off the welds, be sure to file down the weld mounts until they are flush with the surface of the 'drum head'.



Step 4: Printout the pattern from Dennis's website and enlarge the pattern on your scanner or a copy machine until it is the correct dimension. Position this pattern overtop of the "drum head".



Step 5: Trace the pattern onto the surface of the drum. I used a sharpie pen to copy it. This turned out to be a pretty good idea, as the saw scratched up the surface pretty good and I was using oil to help the cut. If I had used a pencil or a water soluable pen, the lines would have been messed up.



Step 6: Cut the tongues out with a jigsaw and metal cutting blade. Follow Dennis' advice on grinding down the blade to cut the tight radius. I went through two blades to cut all of the tongues out. Here's where I made one variation from Dennis's recommendation. Instead of drilling three small holes (my cordless drill battery is pretty shot anyway), I used a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel to start the cut, right on the line of the tongue. (I apologize that the image is sorta blurry). From here it was easy to cut out the rest of the tongue. NOTE: As Dennis recommends, make sure that you stop short on each tongue. This leaves you room to tune each tongue later.



Step 7: Tuning the drum. This is the step where you have to be the most careful. You'll need a digital tuner to complete this step. I started with the biggest tongues first. I used a hacksaw blade with half of it covered in electrical tape, to extend the cuts of each tongue until it was in tune. Note: as shown in the picture, I used eletrical tape to deaden the other tongue while I tuned a specific tongue. I also followed Dennis's advice and left the larger tonque's "open" when tuning the highest two tongue. I am still not completely happy with the tuning or performance of the highest two notes, they "sound" but they don't ring very long.


Step 8: Add a couple of rubber tie down's to the middle of the drum. This helps to dampen the ringing.

Step 9: Play your drum!

Additional thoughts:

First of all, props to Dennis Havlena for his incredible ideas! Keep 'em coming...

Second, I took a dowel, inserted it though the value hole, placed the end on the backside of a tongue and then hit it several times with a hammer. This pushed the individual tongue "up" above the surface of the tank bottom. I think that this make it more playable.

Third, I've also been playing around with the strategic placement of modeling clay on the tank bottom to help eliminate some of the overtones, attempting to get a purer sound.

Fourth: Check the "How To" link section on the sidebar of the blog for additional blog entries on Hank Drum construction.

I'll post a YouTube video once I get a moment to record something.

Join the Hank Drum Collective: http://hankdrum.collectivex.com

The Vegetable Orchestra

Here's an a couple of awesome videos of the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra. They make all of their instruments out of vegetables before the concert. I especially love the sond of the cabbage head.

For more information: http://www.vegetableorchestra.org/

"This is organic music at its best" - Larry the Cucumber
"My cousin has been a featured performer several times" - Bob the Tomato

Manu Delago Hang Music

I discovered Manu Delago's hang music. This guys plays some wonderful music on the Hang Drum.

I love this video: