Whiled away the Saturday afternoon re-creating Steve Reich’s ‘Clapping Music’ using samples of the handclaps on a Linn 9000 and a LinnDrum. Would be good to do it live, with actual drum machines, all using the clap sounds.

Steve Reich’s ‘Clapping Music’ on Linn drum machines

For as many airhorns as you can get, give enough players 1 or 2 airhorns each. 

The airhorns should be from the same line/manufacturer, if possible, to maximise the similarities in their character.

Agree a structure for beginning the performance, then begin. All airhorns should end up playing simultaneously, in unison, and be kept going. 

As the gas is expelled, the canisters will cool and their behaviour will change (for example they will begin to pulse, or the notes will drift etc). 

Players are encouraged to shake, invert or employ any other technique (as long as it's silent) to keep their airhorns sounding, but once the nozzle has been released and the valve closed, an airhorn must not be re-started. 

Bear in mind that they can kick back into life a good while after they seem to have died.

End the performance at a suitable point.

alexandersanders