How Does a DIY Composer Work and Compose?

Composers have always been curious about new sounds and new instruments. Harry Partch built countless instruments, Cage played on radios and bathtubs, Frank Zappa played a bicycle on The Steve Allen Show, Maurizio Kagel built kamikaze instruments, and George Antheil wrote for aircraft engines.

Over the past ten years I have spent most of my composing time writing music for home-made and converted instruments, found objects/instruments (often bought at flea markets) and various bits of hardware, vintage organs and specialised instruments such as the ukulele, harmonica and saw. Many of my instruments often require me to play with both my hands and feet, and at the same time I also like to whistle, play the harmonica or sing.

The project is about my DIY practice, with particular focus on an artistic exploration of playing multiple instruments simultaneously. The project includes workshops for composition students, in which the students work together with me to build new instruments.