Xylophone
The xylophone is a small version of the marimba with a sweet chestnut frame (oak available on request) measuring approximately 1.2metres long and 45cm wide. It has 14 bars tuned to a five note scale, made of padauk. The bars are 75mm (3") wide and produce a crisp ‘xylophone’ sound. A cedar rain cover can be made as an extra on request. £1900 plus installation Marimba
This outdoor musical instrument is a true marimba with double octave overtone tuning. It has 15 bars tuned to a pentatonic scale covering almost 3 octaves. The frame is made of seasoned oak or sweet chestnut. The overall length is 2 metres, and is 50cm wide and 80cm high. The bars are made of padauk for a fantastic sound and good durability. The bars are made 95mm (4") wide to produce a powerful fundamental note. An optional extra for this marimba is a set of 75mm (3") diameter aluminium resonators. Instruments with different tunings and number of bars can be made; email for quote. £2700 plus installation Aluminum Batphone
These outdoor musical instruments are very easy to play, producing a funky bass sound. It is played with table tennis shaped foam bats. The 100mm (4") diameter aluminium pipes produce a superior sound to plastic versions; louder and very responsive. This aluminium batphone has thick walled pipe making it very strong. The six tubes are accurately tuned to a five note scale covering one octave. The frame is also made of reclaimed aluminium scaffolding. Video £1950 plus installation Manza (Wooden)
Similar to the Manva (above) this outdoor musical instrument has ten large paduak mounted in an oak frame measuring 2.1m x 2.1m (7' x 7'). The instrument is tuned to a five note scale, with pairs of tubes being tuned to the same note, but one octave apart, hence its unusual arrangement of five pairs of long and short tubes. This facilitates octave playing, which many people find satisfying and calming. It takes its name, Manza, from a xylophone in central Africa that has its bars arranged in the same order. £2500 plus installation Tubular Gongs
I have called this outdoor musical instrument a 'gong' because its sound is more akin to a Javanese gong, or kempul, than a tubular bell. It is played with large, soft, all-weather gong beaters. This instrument measures 3.15 m (10' 6") high by 1.8m (6') wide. The tubes are 10cm (4") diameter heavy gauge aluminium, the longest being over 2.4m (8' 3") long. The gongs, or bells have a very powerful but mellow sound, and continue vibrating for over one minute. Players enjoy experimenting with this instrument, touching the gongs and feeling them vibrate. Video £2500 plus installation |
Akadinda
This 17 bar log xylophone has bars made of durable and sonorous padauk or reclaimed pitch pine when available. Its overall length is 2.1m (7'), with the longest bar being 1m (39") long. The curved frame is 17.5cm x 17.5cm (7" x 7") section, and cut from a bent oak log. Such extreme curves are rare, and each instrument is unique depending on the logs available. This instrument is inspired by the large Ugandan log xylophone known as Akadinda (aka = big, dinda = xylophone bars). It is tuned to a five note scale and played by up to six people striking the ends of the bars with sticks. Interlocking patterns are played to form polyrhythms. This instrument can also be played with soft rubber beaters. I also make the smaller Amadinda (ama = small) with 12 bars. Video £2900 plus installation Outdoor Tongue Drums
These tongue drums have been developed to withstand outdoor conditions. Each drum has two tongues, one on each side, tuned to different pitches, with intervals of fifths or octaves. They work well in sensory gardens due to the strong vibrations they produce: when struck, the whole instrument "hums", and this vibration is transferred to the ground when installed in a grass/earth area. They work well in a group of three encouraging players to interact. These drums are 70cm (2' 6") tall, but can be made much larger. This instrument is only suitable for supervised areas. £1500 plus installation for a set of three Manza
This tubular bell outdoor musical instrument has ten, 75mm (3") diameter aluminium tubes mounted in an oak frame measuring 2.1m x 2.1m (7' x 7'). The instrument is tuned to a five note scale, with pairs of tubes being tuned to the same note, but one octave apart, hence its unusual arrangement of five pairs of long and short tubes. This facilitates octave playing, which many people find satisfying and calming. It takes its name, Manza, from a xylophone in central Africa that has its bars arranged in the same order. £1900 plus installation Outdoor Cybergongs
These outdoor musical gongs are made from 150mm (6") diameter aluminium; the longest being 12 feet long. The set of three gongs are tuned to a chord thus avoiding dissonances. The deepest gong produces a sound that lasts for at least one minute. The sound is so deep and powerful you can feel it vibrate. The gongs are placed in a triangle so that they interact with other when struck. The frames are made of reclaimed aluminium scaffolding. Video £2050 plus installation for a set of three |