From Scratch Archive .: The Group .: Instruments & Sounds

Instruments & Sounds

FROM SCRATCH instruments are sound and sign, signals to ear and eye. From the outset instrument invention has been central to the group's development, and over the years has graduated from assemblages of found objects to custom designed pieces. The tonal vocabulary has evolved from random-pitched to finely-tuned, just, harmonic and micro'. Central to this development have been the tuned percussion stations, rack-supported, four-tier combinations of PVC pipes, tuned-tongue bells, roto-tom drums, and tuned tongue bamboos, along with some quirky and original methods of playing. First four and later three of these stations, along with various other original struck and spun acoustic instruments, made up the FROM SCRATCH sound that gained it international recognition during the 1980s and ‘90s. 2000 and the group has a fresh sound and new look with Zitherum long stringed instruments (drummed and bowed), the metal pronged Nundrum, the stroked RodBaschet, Gong tree, Foley-trays, WaterCooler–Drumkit, Water-bells & kitchen sink. . . and more recently Gloopdrum, ostifans . . & the list goes on.

Some Instruments of scratch
(Click on text to view instrument, click on image to hear.)