Cyclic Redundancy |
The garage band called Cyclic Redundancy likes to play
what members call "experimental" music. But, they also like
to play experimental musical instruments.
The band is made up of seven kids from Eureka High School.
They play standard band instruments like the fiddle, bass
guitar and keyboard.
Ben Conley |
But, bandleader Ben Conley wasn't satisfied. He wanted
new sounds and decided to make some new instruments out
of wood and PVC pipe.
Thus, the "didgeridoo" is made out of a hollowed-out tree
root and you get the music by blowing through it. The "tubulum"
is made out of PVC pipe in lengths from 6' to 12' and produces
a very low sound when hit with mallets.
Probably the most complicated-looking instrument is titled
simply "PVC."
Ben Conley plays the PVC |
As the name implies, it's made of PVC pipe and looks something
like a cross between a souped-up car engine and a pipe organ.
You get music out of it by hitting the upright pipes with
a cross between a mallet and a ping-pong paddle.
Ben is a 17-year-old junior from Eureka. He's both the
bandleader and the chief instrument maker. The band usually
performs with five members. There are two subs. They fill
in if regulars are doing other things, like wrestling for
the school team.
"We use 15 different instruments and six of them are ones
I built." Ben said.
Derek Dinwiddie |
Other regular members of the band are Derek Dunwiddie of
Wildwood, Ben Roberds of Wildwood, Zack Miinch of Wildwood,
and Jim McLarty of Eureka. The two replacement musicians
are Max Schroeder of Wildwood and Morgan Tarbox, of Eureka,
the only girl.
The band debuted last winter at Eureka High's Variety
Show. That showcases various student talent. Acts include
singing and musical groups and an occasional monologue.
But, Ben said, "We're probably the most unique."
Ben Roberds |
The band was one of the acts to perform at the 2008 Variety
Show.
But, the kids also have performed around town. For instance,
they produced a CD album of music they played at the Solid
Rock Café in Eureka last November.
Ben said the school variety shows have provided the biggest
audiences. The show draws up to 1,000 in two nights of performances.
But, he said, "The Solid Rock had the most people in the
smallest space. People were really packed in."
The band members have fairly conventional musical backgrounds.
Derek had six years of piano lessons. And he plays the
bass drum in school band.
Ben Roberds plays in the school's regular and jazz bands.
He plays the tuba in the regular band and the bass guitar
in the jazz band.
Bandleader Ben has played the fiddle for eight years. He
uses the term fiddle instead of violin to separate him from
classical music.
But, how does he typify the music played by the Cyclic
Redundancy. "I usually call it 'experimental' with some
classical, some Irish and some tribal elements."
Ben said the group gets some of its inspiration from the
popular Blue Man Group. That touring group also plays unique
music on unique instruments.
Besides the aforementioned "didgeridoo," "tubulum" and
"PVC," Ben has built a unique gong, a "drumbone" and the
"backpack."
The gong is a metal shelf built into a wooden frame and
hit by mallets. The "drumbone" is two pieces of PVC pipe,
one inserted into the other. Different sounds are achieved
by lengthening and shortening the combined length while
hitting it with a mallet.
The "backpack" is a huge instrument built into a wood frame
that hangs on the musician's back. Curved arms extend over
the player's head and the music is produced by hitting the
arms with a mallet.
"We don't use the 'backpack' much anymore. It causes too
much chaos," Ben said. "Besides, it's pretty heavy to carry."
The Cyclic Redundancy has been playing together for about
1˝ years. Ben Conley and Derek were the first two members.
They've been adding new members and new instruments ever
since.
But, the kids aren't sure what will happen after they graduate
from high school. Their college plans call for them to be
spread across the country.
Ben Conley plans to go to engineering school at UM-Rolla.
He said he plans a career in electrical engineering. Derek
said he's likely to be at Truman State University in northern
Missouri, where he'd like to study to be a fiction writer.
