Man's Unique Handmade Instrument Emits Mind-Blowing Sounds (Video)

Compared to their mass-manufactured, homogenous and predictable brethren, handmade things can be awe-inspiring, by virtue of their uniqueness and craftsmanship. Employing a completely handmade ethic in the creation of this one-of-a-kind instrument made with natural materials, Turkish sound designer and composer Görkem Şen of Bilgi University and Nerdworking plays with the soul-touching possibilities of vibration and sound.

Dubbed Yaybahar, this "electric-free, totally acoustic instrument" is a curious cobbling of materials that produce a surprising and hauntingly evocative result. In the video below, you'll see and hear Yaybahar in action, with no post-audio processing.

The creators of the video explain that

The vibrations from the strings are transmitted via the coiled springs to the frame drums. These vibrations are turned into sound by the membranes which echo back and forth on the coiled springs. This results in a unique listening experience with a hypnotic surround sound.

Sonic visions like these do expand our understanding of what constitutes music; and, amazingly, these experimental sounds are naturally made -- eerie resonances that remind us of drifting arctic landscapes, strange whale callings over vast seas and windswept, rugged canyons. Hear more of this stunning handcrafted instrument over at Görkem Şen's Soundcloud.