Fran, I originally found your balloon organ video on Make:, and am wondering two things: "How did he do that" and, of course, "Why didn't I think of that?!" But, anyways, I would like to ask you if the same process used to make each (pipe/reed) could be repeated, perhaps to the point of reaching a full Chromatic scale, and multiplying that by two, three, or four to produce an instrument of which would be played like a traditional organ ? Having to buy and make that many (pipe/reeds) and getting it done without giving up seems like a waste of money and time in such a painstaking hyperbolic way. Also, I wanted to complement your creativity and calculation of which was employed during the construction of your instruments. Thanks for reading

Arrrcher! Thanks for the nice words. how do the "reed" assemblages work? I file the lip out of the inside of a plumbing fitting so the copper pipe will pass through it without leaking to the other side where it has a larger socket (3/4") over which I stretch a balloon. A third socket in the fitting is the blow-hole. The 1/2" copper tubing is lightly touching the balloon at all times. Sleeved inside the copper tubing is some very thin brass tubing I got from a hobby shop that perfectly fits once the bottom end of the copper tube has been slightly flared. Since you don't flare the top end of the copper tube, the brass tubing will stop before it hits the membrane. Changing the overall length of the sleeved tube changes the pitch. You can also change the pitch by altering the membrane tension. I answer some similar questions earlier in this Q&A so you might get something there, but also feel free to write again with other questions. Good luck!

your balloon organ is an incredible peice of art: creating stirring music through its elegant functionality. I once endeavored to build my own set of pipes, but the task was beyond me. I have seen the light with your instrument: it overcomes all of the obstacles that defeated me. my thanks to you for sharing your creation with us so that others may learn from your insights. a few questions though: how do the "reed" assemblages work? does the tunable slide have to be in contact with the balloon membrane to produce sound? if so, do you tune that note by pushing the slide up into the membrane? I will be experimenting with this set up myself this week, but any feedback you can provide would be greatly apreciated. thanks again for your marvelous creation!

Great to meet you last Sunday at The Plant! I would love to have your contact info - please send me. Might you and Ellen like to come to see Deborah Hay (contemporary dance legend) perform tomorow night at Mercury Hall at 7PM? Here's the link for my friends Craig and Sally who I want to introduce you to soon: http://www.resonancestudio.com/

Oh, but they're a lovely pair of e-less compositions. One would likely be sportin' quite the forehead, the one what be signing off as Mr. Conson. 'es a pancake piching peripatetic.