Creating Harmony

In the mid to late nineteenth century there was definitely a vogue for these instruments. Victorian gentleman and ladies would attend ‘soirées’ or ‘conversaziones’, crowding round the strange automatic drawing devices and exclaiming in disbelief as the mysterious drawings appeared before their eyes.

Back in 2005 I was researching Victorian stage shows and strange contraptions when I came across the harmonograph. With my penchant for science, making things and the bizarre, it immediately captured my imagination. With it’s relationship to musical vibrations and it’s ability to translate vibration into pictures, I was hooked on the idea.

Finally last year, the gypsy in me envisaged a travelling side show to take to festivals and gatherings. A unique, curious handcart of automatic drawing devices that could visually explore the relationship between mathematics and music. The idea of ‘Harmony’ was conceived.

I managed to track down an original Victorian barrow that was sat on the edge of a field in the middle of Lincolnshire after being retired from selling the farm produce. Intrigued as to my plans for the cart, a kind woman agreed to part with it. Over a few dry weekends, the idea and understanding of how to build such an arcane device slowly emerged and we set to work.

Fig. III
The Veg Barrow
(with it’s original cart wheels in tact)

Fig. IV
Stripping the cart down
(shows the beginnings of 2 pendulums)

Fig. V
The rotary gimbal
(before bearings were invented, providing a universal pivot)

Fig. VI
A lateral pendulum
(pendulums must be a specific length to the centre of the counter weight)

Fig. VII
The naming of Harmony
(Me sign writing and painting coach marks)

Fig. VIII
The pitch roof
(Graeme and Jason trying the pitch roof)

Fig. IX
Lower ‘C’ concurrent
(Harmony in action at Shambala 2010)

Fig. X
Harmony’s first gathering
(Outside the Parade Tent)