Set B — Medium register
01 Set B — Medium register
Set B — Low register
02 Set B — Low register
Set A — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
03 Set A — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Set B — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
04 Set B — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Custom Instruments — Percussion

Glass Chimes

a very long resonating instrument.
Click to expand
Specifications
Workshop
H.K.B. Workshop
Bern, Switzerland
May 2009
Composition
37 light bulbs per set
old & new glass bulbs
Registers
Low · Medium · High
Low (left) → High (right)
3 independent registers per set
Sets
Set A — 37 bulbs
Low: 10 pieces
Medium: 11 pieces
High: 16 pieces
Acquired by CIP Geneva · Available for rent
Set B — 37 bulbs
Low: 12 pieces
Medium: 11 pieces
High: 14 pieces
Platform
Natural wood
Commissioned for
Geneva International Music Competition
“Purple Ritual”
About the instrument

Made by Alin Gherman at the H.K.B. workshop in Bern (Switzerland), May 2009, especially for Purple Ritual — a multi-percussion piece commissioned by the Geneva International Music Competition.

Both sets A and B are composed of 37 light bulbs each, spanning three independent registers. Quality hand-made manufacturing: all knots secured with hot glue. The Glass Chimes were especially assembled in order to resonate very long.

The white plastic wires are long enough to allow the performer to easily isolate any non-desired glass bulb on the wood platform — the performer may freely choose which sounds and pitches to let ring.

Set A has been acquired by the Centre International de Percussion (CIP) in Geneva, Switzerland, and is available for rent.

The Glass Chimes were included in the instrumentation of Purple Ritual and Metal Spirits I, as well as in the original soundtrack of Ein Werktag.

Photography

Sets A & B

74 light bulbs total · Bern, May 2009

Set B — Medium register
Set B — Medium register
Set B — Low register
Set B — Low register
Set A — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Set A — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Set B — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Set B — front view, Low (left), Medium (centre) & High (right)
Featured In
“Purple Ritual” — multi-percussion, Geneva International Music Competition
“Metal Spirits I”
“Ein Werktag” — original soundtrack
Special thanks to Urs Gehbauer and Letizia Lenherr from the H.K.B. Workshop in Bern, Switzerland, for their kind assistance. Both sets.