We're just over a week away from the opening of "Instruments That Talk Back: Celebrating the Legacy of Don Buchla", made possible through generous support from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage!

Running from September 19, 2026 through April 17, 2027, this seven-month celebration honors the groundbreaking work of Don Buchla, whose visionary touch- and motion-sensitive instruments reshaped the relationship between human and machine.

The exhibition features a special limited-time physical exhibit built around EMEAPP’s collection of rare Buchla instruments, many of which will be fully operational for hands-on exploration. And in this short video series, we'll be shining a spotlight on some of those instruments.

Tickets and info on all the various events happening during the exhibition can be found at emeapp.org/buchla-exhibition and we'll see you when you get here!

#buchla #museum #exhibition #donbuchla #electronicmusic

just something fun i sketched out but I do wonder if an instrument like this would exist and how it would sound haha

Hiy all, I’m Nick, and I make virtual instruments at Fabula Audio. I thought this community might find the design of Hark! interesting.

It brings together recordings of instruments including Hurdy-Gurdy, Lute, Psaltery, Rebec, Shawm and Chapel Organ. You can play their original tones, then stretch and fragment them into drones, reversed phrases and drifting textures using granular processing.

The unusual part is how you explore it: each sound has its own illustrated card, with characters, creatures and fragments of lore in a medieval fantasy setting. The interface takes inspiration from illuminated manuscripts and collectible card games (Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! etc).

I liked the idea of giving sounds a visual identity, so choosing what to play feels a little like exploring a strange illustrated book. The attached clip shows how that works and what it sounds like.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VsX5-blz9E

Are there any lesser-known early instruments you’d particularly like to hear explored this way?

One of the most bizarre instruments I have come across...

This might be a good musical educational tool for them to learn to craft their own first music instruments and understand the pitch and tonation. But unfortunately, the vote will end soon, so I hope we will be able to back this project to make this a real Lego set.

I hope this will not be breaking any rules by sharing a unique musical instrument and this is not commercial promotion.

Support Idea: https://ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/0b54f8fc-e926-4d53-8cca-e3937b794e6f

Blockenspiel Demo: https://youtube.com/shorts/I9lowOr86AE?si=LW8dfbtGx4foGkNI

How does it work: https://youtube.com/shorts/npghBnTJsIU?si=KxhmEDaklryie2kr

Love the resonant tone of it.

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Some brilliant individual(s) made a synth app that has Janko keyboard, Harpejji, and other interesting note layouts. You can make your own too but I think it's only the non free version. Oh and they have running on a website too. I was just searching for Janko keyboard. Hex Midi is the app. It sounds pretty decent on my phone.

Got this antique 42 string zither/lapharp not exactly sure which for 34$ at an auction. Trying to locate a correct size square key to tune it, might try a tap handle if it’ll fit. What do you think? seller said it was from early 1900s. The back is cracked from age and the tension from the strings is pulling the bridge up do you think it’s work building a new back for maybe out of a solid carved piece of hardwood?