This video captures a performance of Charlie Draper on the Badgermin, with piano accompaniment by Ben-San Lau:
The Badgermin was constructed by David Cranmer. The electronics are from a PAiA Theremax kit, with new 8mm diameter removable antennae.
Note: Some readers think that combining taxidermy with electronic instrument building, like this, is repulsive, while others think it’s ‘wrong’ in an interesting way.
Intellectually, the Badgermin isn’t that far from the traditions of using cow and goat hides for drum skins, animal intestines (catgut) for the strings of violins and harps, goat toes to create rattles or turtle shells to make shakers. But putting a real face on a musical instrument removes a level of abstraction and seems to trigger a more visceral reaction.
Love it or hate it – let us know what you think of the Badgermin.
