Jun 2011 30
Björk commissioned several custom instruments for the shows surrounding the release of ‘Biophilia’ – one is a hybrid gamelan celeste; the original steel bars of a vintage orchestral celeste were replaced with bronze tonebars hand-made by UK cymbalsmith Matt Nolan, and the instrument was rebuilt and MIDIfied by Iceland’s top organ-maker, Björgvin Tòmasson. This is a 2-minute brief montage of the making of the ‘Gameleste’. I wish I had Bjork’s OG status and could make some next hybrid instruments for myself.
