Bastiaan Maris has been fascinated with the transformation of various forms of energy and their manifestation since his childhood. His interest in machines, sound and violent chemical processes has led to an ongoing research in chemo-acoustic phenomena and the development of musical instruments based upon this principle. This resulted 1993 after four years of testing in the creation of the Large Hot Pipe Organ, the Heater and several other machines and instruments.


The Heater is a chemo-acoustic resonance generator that uses energy from the violent chemical processes that turn propane and oxygen into water and CO2 to generate powerful, low frequency tones. Six propane burners, each mounted inside a steel pipe that acts as a resonator, produce the sounds. Overtones and beat frequencies are generated and varied by manipulating the gas flow and the flames inside the pipes. By playing "chords" of tones that are only slightly different, beat frequencies emerge in the very low registers. These are felt more than heard and together with overtones produce a "hypnotic" state in the musician and audience. The music played on this instrument is more than an audible feast; as the sounds rumble through the body it becomes an entirely physical experience.

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