The Nancarrow Barrow (musical bike trailer)
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The Nancarrow Barrow
The
Nancarrow Barrow is named
after the North American composer who used mechanical pianos to great
effect.
I created it in May 2007 for taking to cycling festivals and other
events.
As the barrow (or musical trailer) trundles along the bedpost inside the cage rolls around hitting the tubing, and the dog’s chain that hangs down hits the tubes as they come around. It sounds like a mobile Gamelan orchestra; the melodies vary with the speed of the barrow.
The barrow uses aluminium tubing from a school’s gym apparatus (the school was about to be demolished to build flats). The wooden slats were part of a bed base and recovered from a skip along with the bedpost that rolls around within the “cage”. The bike wheels were found on a bike dumped in a skip. The trombone bell was recovered from a battered military trombone. that was destined for a pub wall.
The Nancarrow Barrow always attracts attention so if you are interested if having it at one of your events please get in touch >>