ABSTRACT
Space plates consist of a steel (preferably stainless) plate, bronze rods brazed to one surface of the plate, and inflated toy balloons in small buckets used to support the plate in a table-like fashion. The Crustacean, in particular, is a stainless steel disk with bronze rods supported by three inflated balloons. The sound of the Crustacean is extremely resonant. Two bows are used, one for each hand, and the placement of the rods on the plate is symmetrical, allowing two bowing trajectories for each hand. The rows of rods are curved for the same reason a bowed string instrument bridge is curved, so that one string (or rod) may be bowed at a time, or all bowed in a sweeping motion. With its harmonic character, the Crustacean tends to take its own course, and the player goes along for the ride.
