Windchimes

Part of a Windchime

The video below shows you some examples of students work for the wind-chime project.

Steps required to make the Wind-chime.

1. Design your wind-chime
2. Cut aluminium tube to correct lengths
3. File end to aluminium chimes to shape
4. Remove sharp edges off the aluminium chimes.
5. Center punch 10mm from one end.
6. Drill hole in one end of chime at the 10mm mark
7. Cut timber chime support to length.
8. Shape timber support as desired.
9. Drill holes in the support for each chime and striker
10. Cut striker to size.
11. Cut wind catcher to size.
12. Paint and decorate support, striker and wind catcher.
13. Attach chimes with fishing line.
14. Add fishing line to hang wind catcher.

History of Windchime.

Wind chimes have a long and varied history, with developments spanning cultures, continents and uses. Archeological finds date back almost 5000 years. In South East Asia remains of wind chimes made from bone, wood, bamboo and shells were found about 3000 BC. Chimes were thought to ward off evil spirits. A more practical use in Indonesia was to scare birds from crops.

In 1100 BC, the Chinese were the first to appreciate the musical and artistic properties of wind chimes and bells. The Chinese developed the art of bell sounding and metal bells were hung from eaves in temples and pagodas to ward off evil spirits. They were also used as warning signals when the uncontrollable forces of nature were about to impact the environment, e.g typhoons, tsunamis.

The Chinese used the music of chimes to express emotions and establish an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Buddhists liked to hang hundreds or even thousands of wind chimes or bells on temples, shrines and pagodas. Causing during breezy moments an almost overwhelming auspicious sensation of sound.

In the 1800's wind chimes spread from China to Japan and then the western world. The soothing tones of windchimes echoed the music of the breeze, creating a meditative atmosphere of peace and calm.

Listening to the sound of windchimes creates a state of balance, relief, serenity and peace. Wind chimes change moods and atmosphere. They inspire peace and harmony in our busy lives, calming, relaxing and healing.

Types of Windchimes.

Koshi Wind Chimes

The ‘Koshi’ Wind Chime is an authentic musical instrument, an original creation of high quality. Hand made at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains, each chime is the result of meticulous craftsmanship.

Koshi chimes are precision tuned wind chimes and come in four tunings. Each has a specific magic timbre and can be played harmoniously with all others. The resonance tube consists of bamboo veneer treated with natural oil.

Japanese Wind Chimes

The Wind Bell or ‘Furin’ is a Japanese cultural icon. The distinctive quality of it's sound distinguishes it from traditional western wind chimes. The Furin having a single, resonant sound that has been described as ‘clear, cool and otherworldly’.

Zaphir Wind Chimes

Zaphir Wind Chimes are hand crafted and precisely tuned musical instruments, available in five beautiful melodies and many vibrant colours.Precision tuned, eight chords of different lengths, are welded with silver into a metal plate at the base of a resonance tube. Through precise tuning of the different tone ranges, the harmonic progression of tones starts switching into overtones, in a circling almost endless flow.

Bamboo Wind Chimes

These bamboo wind chimes are hand crafted in a small rural area of Bali specializing in bamboo crafts. Well known for their quality and originality, these bamboo chimes have especially sweet melodies and the crafts people work under fair and happy working conditions.

Wind Gongs

Gongs belong to the oldest and most important musical instruments of South East Asia. Their origins may be traced back to the second millennium B.C., but it is assumed that the gong is much older. In Chinese history, gongs are mentioned around 500 A.D., attributed to a nation called HSI YU between Tibet and Burma during the reign of Emperor Hsuan Wu. Even today there are many gong forges producing handmade gongs using traditional techniques. Each gong is a work of art and of excellent craftsmanship, the results are unique.

Copper Wind Chimes

Inspired by ancient Chinese bells, this trio and quintet of copper bells provides a soft, restful tone.

Brass Wind Chime

Nousaku in Japan manufactures brass wind bells through a collaboration with designers and using traditional techniques acquired from producing Buddhist altar fittings. These wind bells offer the finesse of material beauty and the clear ringing sound that brass produces.

Individually handmade by skilled craftsmen and featuring colouring's that match the material, as in gold plating for ‘gold’, silver plating for ‘silver’, bronze plating for ‘bronze’, black nickel for ‘black’ and copper plating for ‘pink gold’.

Aeolian Wind Chimes

Wind harps have the distinction of being the only strung instrument whose music is composed entirely of harmonic tones, imbuing them with a vibrant resonance not heard in ordinary music. They are also the only strung instrument played solely by the wind. These two characteristics combine to create a music that for many people is especially alluring.

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