Pyrophone

The pyrophone is the gas organ or thermoacoustic organ. In this instrument, like a normal organ, there is one pipe for each note, but the air flows through the pipes not thanks to a motor, but rather by creating a temperature difference between the lower and upper parts of the pipe.

By heating the lower part with a flame, the hot air moves rapidly upward, creating the flow that produces the sound. In this, it is similar to the steam calliope, except that in the latter, combustion is external to the barrel, while in the pyrophone it is internal.

Here's a video of the pyrophone. Impressive.

Back