workstations, bullroarers

in the middle of the madness of ordering materials so that i can begin building this week, a little diversion has cropped up which has sparked a tangent for following.....i'm in the process of making a 'bull roarer' so that i can video myself playing it (that is - swinging it above my head), and sending the footage/sound to paeces so that they can present it as part of the gig to be held at the Palais in Melbourne in late February -- an event organised by Marco Fusinato of you dont have to call it music. Seeing as though i'll miss yet another paeces gig, we thought that it would be interesting to have a video presence to supplement their live-ness. So, after whittling away at a piece of hardwood this afternoon, and testing the fledgling instrument for that unmistakable growl produced in the spinning, i was bitterly dissapointed at the distinct lack of any sound other than my own elevated breathing from the effort of twirling it above my head!

A reflief though, as I laid eyes on some aluminium tubing across the room and realised that this might be actually present a more interesting acoustic option - so quickly hacked off a piece, strung it up, and gave it a whirr - and it sounds really great -- more high pitched than a wooden roarer would be. I then decided to drill some holes in the tube to encourage a whistling sound - and it works really well (and is way less country than the hardwood).


bullroarer with decorative woven cord and pine attachment


aluminium bullroarer


workstation in situ