Barnz' Instruments

----------Click on an instrument to hear its sound----------

PVC Monster: (left) PVC pipes, ends whacked with flip flops.
Trash Can Platter: (top mid) trash can, bike wheel, threaded rods supporting platters, pan lids and circular saw blades
T.Rodimba: (right) board with bent threaded rods and springs
Tubulon: (bottom mid) electical conduit pipes hanging on strings in a xylophone-like setup, struck with plexiglass rods


The instruments shown to the left are part of the collection of experimental percussion that were created by David Barnes in 1991 for the composition and performance of his Percussion Symphony No.1 . In 1993 these instruments were used in conjunction with a traditional string quartet for Barnes' work - Octet For Eight People which was performed at The Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors Festival, The First and Second Church of Boston, Dia Center (NYC), Swarthmore College and Christ Church (Philadelphia).

Currently David is composing with samples of his various instruments, and is continuing to combine elements of rock, classical, ambient, industrial and experimental music in his work. He recently finished a piece for oboe, cello, flute, bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone and digital delay, in which all of the instrument parts except for the oboe get repeated by the delay. The result is an unusual blend of modern classical and ambient.

Incantor Another unusual instrument that Barnes has been composing with recently is a custom built electronic instrument (not a synthesizer) called an Incantor (click on photo to right to hear a sound sample). This instrument, invented by Q.R. Ghazala, is made from a Texas Instruments Speak-And-Math with some custom designed circuit-bending. It gives off extraordinary sounds from its human voice emulator and Barnes Has used it as the main driving force behind several of the compositions on his new release - Hinges. 




Below are some other Barnzstuff sound clips with unusual combinations of
instruments and/or styles:









Go Back

to my home page