Sound Inventions

Sound Inventions is a collection of 34 articles taken from Experimental Musical Instruments, the seminal journal published from 1984 through 1999. In addition to the selected articles, the editors have contributed introductory essays, placing the material in cultural and temporal context, providing an overview of the field both before and after the time of original publication. The Experimental Musical Instruments journal contributed extensively to a number of sub-fields, including sound sculpture and sound art, sound design, tuning theory, musical instrument acoustics, timbre and timbral perception, musical instrument construction and materials, pedagogy, and contemporary performance and composition. This book provides a picture of this important early period, presenting a wealth of material that is as valuable and relevant today as it was when first published, making it essential reading for anyone researching, working with or studying sound.

Bart Hopkin is maker of acoustic musical instruments and student of instruments worldwide. He earned a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University in folklore and mythology specializing in ethnomusicology in 1974, and later received a B.A. in music education and a teaching credential at San Francisco State University. From 1985 to 1999, Bart edited the quarterly journal Experimental Musical Instruments. Since 1994, he has written numerous books on instruments and their construction, including the leading resource, Musical Instrument Design. He has produced CDs featuring the work of innovative instrument makers, including the very successful Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones. Sudhu Tewari is an electro-acoustic composer, improvisor, and bricoleur in sound, kinetic and interactive art. He holds a B.A. in Music from Sonoma State University, an M.F.A. in Electronic Music and Recording Technology from Mills College, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Musicology from UC Santa Cruz. Sudhu builds audio electronics, acoustic instruments, kinetic sculptures, interactive installations, and sound sculpture. Dr. Tewari is Workshop Technician in the instrument building program at Mills College and teaches art, technology, and design at California College of the Arts, the University of San Francisco, and Expression College in Emeryville.

Introductory Essays - Perspectives on New Instruments: Ideas and Questions that Shape the Field of Experimental Musical Instrument Making, Bart Hopkin, June 2020. - The Experimental Musical Instruments Journal: A History as Recalled by the Founder and Editor, Bart Hopkin, June 2020. Articles/Chapters - Steel Cello and Bow Chimes: Designed and Built by Robert Rutman, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 1 #1, June 1985. - The Long String Instrument: Designed and Built by Ellen Fullman, Ellen Fullman and Bart Hopkin, Vol. 1 #2, August 1985. - Holy Crustacean, Batman, That Beast Sings!, Tom Nunn, Vol. 1 #4, December 1985. - The Megalyra Family of Instruments: Designed and Built by Ivor Darreg, Ivor Darreg, Vol. 2 #2, August 1986. - Daniel Schmidt's American Gamelan Instruments, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 2 #2, August 1986. - The Waterphone: Designed and Built by Richard Waters, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 2 #3, October 1986. - The Musical-Acoustical Development of the Violin Octet, Carleen Hutchins, Vol. 2 #6, April 1987. - Structures Sonores: Instruments of Bernard and François Baschet, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 3 #3, October 1987. - Tata and his Kamakshi Veena, David Courtney, Vol. 3 #4, December 1987. - Bamboo is Sound Magic, Darrell DeVore, Vol. 3 #4, December 1987. - Dachsophon, Hans Reichel, Vol. 4 #3, October 1988. - The Pikasso Guitar, Linda Manzer, Vol. 4 #6, April 1989. - The Piatarbajo: Its History and Development, Hal Rammel, Vol. 5 #2, August 1989. - A Comparative Tunings Chart, David Courtney, Bart Hopkin, Larry Polansky, Erv Wilson, Vol. 6 #2, August 1990. - Famous Color Instruments of the 19th and 20th Centuries, Kenneth Peacock, Vol. 7 #2 & 3, September and November 1991. - Membrane Reeds: Indonesia and Nicasio, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 7 #3, November 1991. - Circuit-Bending and Living Instruments, Qubais Reed Ghazala, Vol. 8 #1, September 1992. - Giant Lamellaphones: A Transatlantic Perspective, Richard Graham, Vol. 9 #1, September 1993. - Tumbas, Rumba Boxes, & Bamboo Flutes: Caribbean Instruments by Rupert Lewis, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 9 #1, September 1993. - "Sugar Belly" Walker and the Bamboo Saxophone, Bart Hopkin and Brian Wittman, Vol. 9 #2, December 1993. - Relating Timbre and Tuning, Bill Sethares, Vol. 9 #2, December 1993. - Fire Music, Norman Anderson, Bart Hopkin, Michel Moglia, and Etiyé Poulson, Vol. 10 #1, September 1994. - A Short Introduction to the Bambuso Sonoro, Hans van Koolwijk, Vol. 10 #1, September 1994. - Augustus Stroh and the Famous Stroh Violin, Cary Clements, Vol. 10 #4, June 1995 - Drums for the 21st Century, Kris Lovelett and Christopher White, Vol. 11 #2, December 1995. - Flutes & Sound Sculptures of Susan Rawcliffe, Susan Rawcliffe, Vol. 11 #2, December 1995. - Some Basics on Shell Trumpets and Some Very Basics on How to Make Them, Mitchell Clark, Vol. 12 #1, September 1996. - A Musical Instrument Workshop in Hanoi, Jason Gibbs, Vol. 12 #1, September 1996. - Sirens, Bart Hopkin, Vol. 12 #4 and Vol. 13 #1, June 1997 and September 1997 - Slate, Will Menter, Vol. 13 #1, September 1997. - Mechanical Speech Synthesis, Martin Riches, Volume 13 #1 and Volume 13 #2, September and December 1997. - Beyond the Shaker: Experimental Instruments and New Educational Opportunities, John Bertles, Vol. 14 #4, June 1999. - The Photosonic Disk, Jacques Dudon, Vol. 14 #4, June 1999. - Journey Through Sound and Flame, Brian Ransom, Vol. 14 #4, June 1999.