Has a Musician or Conductor Ever Invented an Instrument Because They Wanted a Specific Sound?

From Benjamin Franklin's glass armonica to contemporary innovations in musical speakers, musicians have long been at the forefront of instrument invention. This quest for a unique sound has driven countless individuals to create new instruments and technologies that enhance the musical landscape.

The Glass Armonica: Franklin's Ingenious Invention

Benjamin Franklin, the famous polymath, invented the glass armonica in 1761 after being inspired by a musical performance he saw in France. The instrument, also known as the armonica, consists of a set of glass bowls that are used to produce notes by water and a rubbing technique. Its name derives from the Italian word "armonia," meaning harmony.

Franklin built the first glass armonica from the glass bowls of wine glasses, but it was later made using specialized glass. The instrument produced a range of sounds and was favored by composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven who composed works specifically for it.

Today, performances of the glass armonica can still be witnessed, and the instrument is featured in various documentaries, including a PBS special showcasing the evolution of this unique instrument.

From Traditional Sounds to Modern Technology: My Journey with Musical Speakers

My own journey in the world of musical innovation began with a quest for a specific sound, much like that of Benjamin Franklin. Over 30 years of playing various instruments, particularly the bass guitar, I realized that the traditional speakers were not providing the sound quality I desired. This led me to develop faster speakers with lower time distortion and a wider bandwidth, specifically for the rhythmic precision and visceral impact of a physical bass instrument.

I soon extended my research and developed musical speakers that mimic orchestral strings, including the violin, viola, cello, and contrabass. These speakers, while not providing a new sound, were the first to be able to fool conservatory-trained musicians. This technology found utility not only in stage amplification but also in sampled and processed sounds intended to blend with acoustic instruments.

The compatibility of electronic and traditional instruments has always been a challenge for electronic music, but with the development of these speakers, I was able to make it work. By using them for electronically synthesized signals, the sounds produced were made to be compatible with those from physical sound sources.

Meeting Musical Innovators

Throughout my decades-long career, I had the privilege of meeting and learning from many innovative musicians who have created new instruments or technologies. Here are just a few of these inspiring individuals:

Robert Dick and Julian Elvira: Continuous Pitch Flutes

Robert Dick and Julian Elvira are known for creating continuous pitch flutes that can play glissandos smoothly. Their innovative approaches have allowed for a wider range of expression in flute playing, enriching the repertoire of wind instruments.

Johnny Reinhart: Microtonal Bassoon

Johnny Reinhart, a saxophonist and inventor, created a microtonal bassoon. This instrument allows for the exploration of microtonal scales, providing a new level of detail and nuance in the performance of this traditional instrument.

Ken Butler: Found Object Instruments

Ken Butler, a guitarist and inventor, plays a wide range of instruments he has constructed from found objects. His creativity and adventurous spirit have led to unique and surprising sounds that challenge traditional notions of musical performance.

Marco Antonio Guimeraes and Uakti: Percussion Orchestra

Brazilian artist Marco Antonio Guimeraes collaborated with the percussion duo Uakti to create a percussion orchestra of invented instruments. Their work has been notably popularized by the theatrical success of the Blue Man Group, making cutting-edge percussion accessible to a broader audience.

Mark Deutsch: The Bazantar

Mark Deutsch, an electronic and acoustic instrument inventor, introduced the Bazantar, a fascinating hybrid instrument combining a string contrabass and a sitar. This unique instrument has opened new possibilities for composers and performers.

Other notable musicians in this field include Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who invented the Manzello and Stritch and played them simultaneously with a trumpet, demonstrating the boundless creativity of musicians driven by their desire to create new sounds.

Raymond Scott and Bob Moog: Early Synthesizers

Raymond Scott, famous for his work on the "Looney Tunes" soundtrack, was one of the early pioneers in synthesizer technology. His creations laid the groundwork for modern synthesizers, and Bob Moog learned valuable circuit design skills from working with him.

Bart Hopkin and Experimental Musical Instruments

Bart Hopkin is known for his magazine "Experimental Musical Instruments," which has documented the work of hundreds of instrument inventors. His dedication to the field has inspired many to continue innovating in the realm of music.

Maurice Martinot: Ondes Musicales

Maurice Martinot, a contemporary of Leon Theremin, invented the Ondes Musicales, an early electronic instrument combining a keyboard and gestural inputs. This instrument revolutionized the way electronic sounds could be produced, influencing countless musicians and composers.

Through the centuries, musicians and inventors have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible with traditional instruments and technology. From Franklin's glass armonica to the modern musical speakers and beyond, the quest for a specific sound has led to groundbreaking innovations that enrich the musical landscape.