The Foghorgan

My research for the Cornell FutureSounds festival in creating novel instrument designs culminated in an instrument called the “foghorgan”. Comprised of two PVC membrane foghorn clarinets, a PVC flute, a balloon, and a 1-way pressure valve, Foghorgan Study #1 combines everyday plumbing and party equipment in cycles displaying the intricacy of our everyday systems. Slight tweaks to the machine vary the air pressure or can cause degenerate frequencies, creating an infinitely interfaceable and modular sound object.

The instrument is operated by blowing, humming, or buzzing into the mouthpiece. It passes through the 1-way pressure valve and stores air inside the balloon on the other side, allowing the performer to remove the mouthpiece without it deflating. The air can then be released by a series of valves into any of the connected instruments.

I designed this instrument to deal with the issues of playing multiple instruments with one pair of hands and lungs. The framework allows for each instrument to be played from the same position, and the stored air in the balloon makes it much easier to play without stopping for breaths.