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My Original Instruments


Many of my original instruments survive, but the majority do not. Here are some photos and descriptions.

ClavichordClavichord. Cherry, spruce, and other woods, with serigraph inlay.
Keyboard/metal hardware from kit, all remainder hand-built.
1968. Sold; pictured with singer Linda Kay, ca. 1970; no full photo survives.
Built for personal use.

Early Electronic Instruments.
1969-1973. All reused and then lost; no photos known to exist.
The closest is this photo from 1973 of where I built them.

Built for numerous compositions, including syne-4.
The only surviving composition using these instruments is Construction in Sliding Tones (1970)
JuicedrumJuicedrum. Juice cans on fir frame.
1971. Original lost; no photos known to exist.
Built for Withered, and rebuilt in 2002 for a reprise performance.


The Juicedrum can be heard in Withered (1971)
Rose OrganRose Organ. Roses and oscillators.
1973. Wilted.
Built for Trans/Media Minifest.
Although a site recording exists, I have not yet remounted and copied this very old tape.
Bellzebub. Brass bells, wrenches, and other resonant objects on fir frame.
1975. Dismantled; no photos known to exist. This tiny corner of a photo scanned in 2012 turned up part of it underconstruction. That's all there is.
Built for several pieces at the Trans/Media Benefit Concert.
A concert recording exists and will be posted when available.
Chimes I and IIChimes I & II. Glass chimes on fir frame.
1975. Dismantled; no photos known to exist; original plans shown here became chimes for Plasm over ocean.
Built for Cy-gît.


No recordings of this instrument were made.
HeadbuzzerHeadbuzzer. Supersonic oscillators and control surfaces.
1975. Dismantled
Built for Caution:MergingEnvironments.
No recordings of this installation were made.
Fortepiano. Maple, cherry and spruce.
1976. "Self-destroyed" when it collapsed while being chipped to tune; no photos known to exist
This image is of the pinblock, which was salvaged and reused in the Hharp (below).
Brass ChimesBrass Chimes. Brass on fir frame.
1976. Dismantled. Now a wind chime in Roxbury, Vermont.
Built for Plasm over ocean; a recording can be heard on that site.

Glass ChimesGlass Chimes. Laboratory glass on fir frame.
1976. Dismantled. Glass rods now in storage. Body burned.
Built for Plasm over ocean; a recording can be heard on that site.

HharpHharp. Maple, spruce, and plexiglas.
1977. Damaged but intact.
Built for Plasm over ocean; a recording can be heard on that site.

GlassharmonicaGlassharmonica. Bowls, candles and resonators.
1977. Never built.
Intended for Plasm over ocean.

GongGong. Brass with silkscreen (not yet applied in this 1977 photo).
1977. At the studio of David Gunn.
Built for Plasm over ocean; a recording can be heard on that site.

UncelloUncello. Maple, plexiglas, and glass.
1977. Destroyed.
Built for Plasm over ocean; a recording can be heard on that site (second movement is best).



Four images from Livingston High School, New Jersey, where the students built a replica of the uncello in oak, the "MolCello". It was built using the original plans, rather than the final design:

Three images from Mark Hutchins and his project replicating the Uncello. His is done in cherry.
Defrocked Autoharp.
1978. In storage; no photos yet taken.
Built for Missa da Camera.
The Defrocked Autharp can be heard in the Credo from Missa da Camera (1978)
MiniharpMiniharp. Maple and mahogany.
1978. Whereabouts unknown.
Built for Ash Wednesday.
The Miniharp can be heard in Ash Wednesday (1983)
MonofilamentMonofilament. Organ pipe and fishing line, with cello bow.
1978. Dismantled.
Built for Christian Wolff in Hanover and also used in Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.
Ovarian xylophoneOvarian Xylophone. Birch trunk, maple, and fresh eggs, with contact microphone.
1978. Burned.
Built for Christian Wolff in Hanover.

A recording of this instrument exists, and will be posted when available.
BuzzophoneBuzzophone. Fir and buzzers.
1978. Whereabouts unknown. Found in storage.
Built for Christian Wolff in Hanover.
A recording of this instrument exists, and will be posted when available.
ExlophonExlophon. Maple on fir and rope frame.
1981. Burned.
No recording of this instrument exists.
TriangulumTriangulum. Maple and spruce.
1981. In storage.
Built for Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.

XsynfaceXsynface. Analog/digital circuits and plastic case.
1981. In storage. Dismantled 2012.
RhythmatronRhythmatron. Analog/digital circuits and copper-clad board case, with handmade keyboard.
1982. Lost.
Built for David Gunn's Armies of Mice.

A recording was made and will be posted when found.
OrganismOrganism. Maple, cherry, and lucite, with 37 tuned oscillators.
1983. In storage; to be restored; photo here shows lucite pipes (inset).
Built for Ash Wednesday.

The Organism an be heard in Ash Wednesday (1983)
NighthawkNighthawk. Computers and light sensors with intelligent algorithms.
1984. Dismantled.
Built for Nighthawk and also used in Echo and In Bocca al Lupo; a recording can be heard on that site.


The Nighthawk can be heard in In Bocca al Lupo (1986)
MirrorgardenMirrorgarden. Mirrors and sunlight, with hurricane lamp.
1985. In storage.
Built for Permutrance V.

CandleharpCandleharp. Plexiglas and circuits, with candles in lucite frame.
1985. Lost in house fire when on loan.
Built for Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.

Infernal machineThe Infernal Machine. Fir and pulleys with attached hand-percussion instruments.
1985. Dismantled and burned.
Built for Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.

WindharpWindharp. Maple, brass and mahogany.
1985. Whereabouts unknown.
Built for Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.

JinglesJingles. Tongue depresser, string, and washers.
1985. Given to audience; these three left on the floor, with washers missing. Some survive.
100 pieces made for Echo; a recording can be heard on that site.
ForkklangForkklang. Maple and spruce with identical tuning forks.
1994. Damaged, in storage.
Built for Unisons.


The Forkklang can be heard in Unisons (1994)
DiskklangDiskklang. Fir and hard disks.
1994. Dismantled, in storage.
Built for Unisons.


The Diskklang can be heard in Unisons (1994)
Simple DulcimerSimple Dulcimer. Maple, black cherry, ash, phosphor bronze strings.
2013. In storage.
Built as a demo at the Champlain Maker Faire.
Children's BellsChildren's Bells. Retuned bell set.
2013. With the performer.
Built for The Forest at the South Field.

The Children's Bells can be heard in The Forest at the South Field (2013)

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