ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the making of the Victorian Synthesizer. British artist John Bowers has developed a beautiful electric instrument, evoking the spirit of nineteenth-century electrical experimentation out of nothing more than a speaker, some batteries, wire, and scrap metal. Tapping the alligator clip against the battery terminal will produce a nice little percussive accent, both drum-like and “speaker-ish,” acoustic and electronic. Sound doesn’t always end at the loudspeaker; it can start there. Different speakers sound different, even in similar configurations.
