When I was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, I was a founding member of a group called the "Disposable Art Ensemble", which was dedicated to performing improvisation-based New Music. Our founding purpose was actually to provide an aesthetic counterpoint to the folk musicians who frequented the open mic scene at the Student Union. Unfortunately the Emcee hated us.1 Therefore, we changed our name frequently, and sent new (unknown) group members to avoid being banned from the stage (which we were on occasion). We also performed under the names: "The Kenneth Patchen Experience", the "Neo Tonality in Early Minimalism Community Band", and the "Calumetville Volunteer Fire Department and Indeterminant Consort". After I left town the group began performing strictly notated music as well, and began performing under the name "The Society for Pleasant Music in the Suburbs". More recent appellation include "Emergorchestra" and "DynaMusic".
I still work with the group as a composer and sometimes performer. I've always enjoyed working with them, as they are good friends and great musicians. Several of the group members are closely aesthetically alligned with Harry Partch, because of his populist approach to New Music. Some of the group members are also interested in instrument design and theater pieces.
One of the intersections of these interests came in the form of the Chaerophone (Photos 16 and 17). This instrument has been used in concert only once for a piece written by the instrument's designer, Kia Karlen. This work, entitled Cuba was performed as a part of concert of works based off of texts from anonymous phone calls to the Capital Times (a Madison area newspaper).
Photo 16 - Chaerophone #1.
Photo 17 - Chaerophone #2.
The Chaerophone is an inflatable chair, to which several wind based toy noise makers are attached (Photos 18 and 19). To play the instrument, one simply sits down and removes the clamps. In their one public use, the performers were required to 'crack open a beer' before sitting down. Needless to say, the instruments make a heck of a lot of racket, and take a couple of minutes to fully deflate. Personally, I love 'em.
Photo 18 - The back of Chaerophone #1.
Photo 19 - The back of Chaerophone #2.
1Incidently, the sound man loved us.