Orchestra Plays on Intruments Made of Car Parts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 8.08
Now we know what to do when Peak Oil hits: Take apart our cars and entertain each other. Bill Milbrodt of the Car Music Project spent five weeks with 22 workers deconstructing a brand new Ford Focus and reassembling it into musical instruments for a British Ford commercial.
Bill Milbrodt was interviewed by Peter Kirn, (full interview here, along with three minute version of the ad)
You describe taking delivery of the car with one mile on its odometer, then immediately proceeding to deconstruct it. How much pre-planning was involved to figure out how to construct the instruments? How much was sort of improvised on the spot with the car?
[None of the construction] was really improvised on the spot. The car was dismantled completely, and the parts were sorted into boxes and around the workshop (door parts with door parts, etc.). I had previous experience making the Car Music Project instruments from my old Honda Accord, so that experience was applied. But, the basic process is one of putting together a puzzle.
We had requirements for wind, brass, percussion, and string instruments that could play the music that was presented to us. We were also required — for credibility and authenticity — to make instruments from intact car parts as much as possible (as opposed to making major or defining parts out of sheet metal from the body of the car). And most important, the instruments had to A) be able to play in tune according to traditional western standards, and B) they had to be physically close enough to traditional instruments to enable professional musicians to learn them quickly because they would only have one or two rehearsals before recording the music. Finally, they had to be visually attractive; call it compelling if you like. In other words, television is mainly a visual medium and they needed to look great. ::Createdigitalmusic via ::The Sietch Blog
See also the Vegetable Orchestra.
I honestly think that my Focus would be better used if turned into musical instruments, or it would at least make less frightening noises.
Do you think you could an "s" to the "intruments" in the title. I'm blaming the fact that I gave up caffeine for Lent and am currently suffering from withdrawal for the fact that I just typed this, but really I'm anal retentive with or without soda.
I check treehugger compulsively (does that make up for my need to correct grammar?)
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing about the ‘Car Parts Concerto’ by Lloyd Alter. It made me wonder if there is any mileage (excuse the pun) for another unique set of fully functional musical instruments made eight decades ago. No question these truly amazing recycled and reinvented instruments prove you don't need to use exotic endangered tree species for musical instruments to play well and to sound good! Don’t take my word for it. Visit the URL and learn why “Striking Up The Band” with these instruments could set the music world on fire! Superstar Glen Campbell couldn't believe his matchless performance with the acoustic guitar on American television.
All the best from across the Atlantic.