Bizarre Orchestra: The World’s Most Unusual Musical Instruments

The Moodswinger

The moodswinger is a guitar-like instrument which was created by Yuri Landman. In actuality, it is not a guitar per se, but more like a zither, because it has no frets. This 3rd bridge guitar has 12 strings and is electrically powered. The moodswinger was originally made by Yuri Landman for drummer Aaron Hemphill. Quite an unusual guitar, isn’t it?

The Great Stalacpipe Organ

The Great Stalacpipe organ was considered by many as one of the largest crafted musical instruments in the world. It is located inside the Lurray Caverns, in the Shanandoah Valley. Leland Sprinkle, the inventor of this unique instrument, discovered that stalactites inside the Lurray caverns produce melodic sounds. He then constructed a keyboard console and wired a mallet to each stalactite within a 3.5 acre cavern space! The sounds gathered from the stalactites are then regulated by this stalacpipe organ and can be played using traditional organ/piano keys. This became considered as the oldest natural litophone in the world.

The Zadar Sea Organ

The Sea Organ is a splendid example of impeccable architecture and sound engineering. Located on the shores of Zadar, Croatia, this is the first musical instrument naturally played by the waves of the sea. This unique instrument, made by architect Nikola Basic in 2005, looks like normal but elegant steps along the seashore. Underneath it, however, are 35 musically tuned tubes. Depending on the size, strength, and velocity of the waves that toss on the seashore, musical chords are played and the sound comes out from whistle openings on the sidewalk. Call it a main instrument in nature’s orchestra.

The Aeolian Wind Harp

The Aeolian harp is a musical instrument played by the wind. It originated in Ancient Greece, but was popularly used as home decorations during the Renaissance and Romantic Era. It is designed to play music without human hands. The wind causes the Aeolian harp to vibrate and produce random harmonic sounds and notes (sometimes chords). This is another instrument in nature’s orchestra!

The Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ

The Guiness Book of World Records consider the Atlantic City Organ as the loudest musical instrument ever created. It is also the world’s largest pipe organ. This instrument has 7 manuals (controls found in most traditional organs), 1,255 speaking stops, 455 ranks and 33,112 pipes! One of the natural speakers built inside this instrument can be six times louder than the world’s loudest train whistle! The Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ weighs approximately 150 tons (which explains why it’s stuck in that location possibly forever).

Aquaggaswack

Besides being hard to spell, this instrument was also uniquely built. It falls under the category of gong and cymbal instruments. Mallets, sticks and brushes form the Aquaggaswack. It is made of pot lids stuck together by galvanized plumbing pipe. It was created by Curtis Settino in 1996 as an experimental musical instrument.

Sandata Ng Lolo Ni Tatay

If we translate this from the Filipino language, this means “Weapon Of My Father’s Grandfather”. This instrument originated from the Philippines and was created by Lirio Salvador. It looks like a cello and can be played exactly like one, except that the sound is different. The sound is amplified by a magnetic pickup coming from mixing bowls. The ‘Sandata ng Lolo Ni Tatay” is a very interesting instrument to watch being played. The name is funny too.