In this workshop, PW Alumni artists-in-residence Daniel Fishkin will provide a short history lesson and demonstration of the Arbrasson instrument, a unique wooden friction idiophone originating from France. This workshop will be followed by a tutorial on building your own Arbrasson using simple hand tools, such as a Ryoba saw and a Kanna.

Friction idiophones are distinct from string instruments. Instead of using a tool to manipulate a wire or strand, friction idiophones are played by rubbing them with your hand. While uncommon, their sonic character is always remarkable. The Livika from Papua New Guinea, for instance, is a carved log consisting of three “tongues” that are rubbed by moistened palms to produce a piercing, loud cry.

Similar to a Livika, the Arbrasson was created by José Le Piez, a sculptor based in France, in 1992. Carving notches into polished logs, he crafts wild polyphonic sculptures that resonate when rubbed. Le Piez discovered the concept accidentally—he did not know the Livika. Yet his instruments extend the instrument, and feature more notes and a wider tonal range. In the summer of 2023, Fishkin met Le Piez in his studio in Bordeaux, where they began an international partnership as instrument builders, sharing designs and keeping the future of the Arbrasson burning bright.

Participant level: No prior technical experience is required.

Class cost: $250 ticket includes instruction and all necessary materials.

Please note: Need-based discounted admission is available upon request. Please email daniel.fiction@gmail.com to request discounted admission.

Daniel Fishkin’s investigations of the aesthetics of hearing damage have received international press; as an ally in the search for a cure, he has been awarded the title of “tinnitus ambassador” by the Deutsche Tinnitus-Stiftung. He is the only luthier who studied directly with the daxophone’s inventor, Hans Reichel. Fishkin’s instruments have traveled the world, including Canada, Norway, Germany, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Australia. He is the first USA-based artist to receive the P.I.G. Prize (2021) from acclaimed fashion designer Henrik Vibskov. Daniel received his MA in Music Composition from Wesleyan University and earned his PhD in Composition and Computer Music at the University of Virginia. He teaches at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he is Assistant Professor of Music Production. His current favorite wood is Prunus Serotina, or Black Cherry.

Members receive 15% off all workshops by entering their discount code at checkout. If you need the code, please email us at members@pioneerworks.org.

This class is part of Continuing Education, our adult education program that provides an opportunity for participants to learn from our current and alumni Artists-in-Residence and intimately engage with their work through accessible entry points.