The Waterphone Musical Instrument

Vajra “Must-See Act” Rolling Stone Magazine

The waterphone is a unique, hand-crafted musical instrument that produces hauntingly ethereal sounds similar to the calls of humpback whales or the eerie sounds produced by the theremin. Being atonal they are easy and fun to play, and can be bowed like a violin or played as a percussive instrument.

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To play the waterphone the resonator pan is first filled with a small amount of water. It can be played by bowing the tone rods using a violin or cello bow, or played percussively by lightly drumming with a mallet, drum sticks or by hand.

The sound of the waterphone evokes mystery and suspense and has been used in movie soundtracks, music recordings, and live performances.

Many contemporary classical composers have written parts for the waterphone in their pieces, as well as being featured in many movie soundtracks. Famous musicians and composers using the waterphone include: Adjusters Expansion Band, Aerosmith, Kitaro, Richard Geoff Barrow, Barone, Todd Barton, Evelyn Glennie, Miles Davis, Mel Graves, Gravity, Imogen Heap, Tokenki, Pierce Turner and William Parker and his Waterphone Ensemble.

The majority of creepy sounds in horror and sci-fi movies are made by the waterphone.