The Biggest Secret Rock Concert [pics]
Mon, Jul 7, 2008
In the third part of our “playable buildings” series, Environmental Graffiti reporter Jammie Nicholas, explores the Great Stalactite Organ of Luray Caverns, Virginia
Deep within the underground labyrinth of the Luray Caverns, Virginia, USA is what is likely to be the world’s largest and awe inspiring musical instrument: The Great Stalactite Organ. The Luray Caverns were discovered on August 13th 1878 by a group of local men who became the first to see the abundant underground cave formations of stalactites, stalagmites and columns.
The Great Stalactite Organ may be the oldest naturally formed lithophone that has a customized organ console to utilize 37 of the cave formations. Initially, volunteers did performances manually until the concept for the organ was designed and installed in 1956 by Leland W. Sprinkle. Three years were spent finding suitable stalactites to produce the specific note. Each of the selected stalactites was then wired a mallet, creating manual control solenoids, activated by the appropriate organ key on the console.
The stalactites used are spread over approximately 3.5 acres of the caverns and are audible throughout the 64-acre labyrinth. Since its installation recordings were taken of Leland W. Sprinkle’s performances initially on vinyl and later on cassette turning classic musical gems compositions into solid rock.
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2 Trackbacks For This Post
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OPP - 7/8 : EAR FARM :: music information helps grow ears Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm[...] Graffiti reporter Jammie Nicholas, explores the Great Stalactite Organ of Luray Caverns, [...]
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Odds and Ends - Neat stuff for Friday « Askthefm’s Weblog Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 6:09 am[...] Next is a cool post from a series at environmentalgraffiti.com about playable or in this case musical buildings:http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/offbeat-news/the-biggest-secret-rock-concert-pics/1380 [...]
July 8th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Do they ever play “America, Fuck Yeah” on that thing?
Because I’d just like like to say fuck the rest of the world, America rulez!
July 8th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
you see ths is what is wrong with the world
fucking rednecks like you that fuck up everything because they are only conserned with themselves
fuck America your all fat fucks that havent ever heard the term “exercise”
July 8th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Sharkey is a retard.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
What a great idea! It sounds almost too good to be true. I’d love to hear it play live, it must be an incredible experience. Especially if, as suggested above, they played any of the songs from Team America.
Joe - http://www.anewbandaday.com
July 8th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Wow. That is amazing.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
As your quote proves ….
America is the dumbest nation in the world ……….
July 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
you’re just another puppet to the mass-retardation of the united states of iraq.
ps… that was beautiful.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
creepy - reminds me of something out of a doctor who episode
July 8th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Oh, grow up…
July 8th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Sharkey, that is such a twatish comment to leave. I can’t believe the moderators actually let that go through.
Also mindless americans no doubt.
Good things you guys just keep proving yourselfs again, and again, and again.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
it’s that kind of guy who gives the rest of us a bad reputation.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
You are dumb.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I love how when one guy(who’s probably 12-17) makes an immature joke, everybody else starts stereotyping a whole country of people based on a remark. Apparently we are all fat and don’t exercise and Sharkey is what is wrong with our nation. The british have just as many obese people walking around as the United States, and I bet there are probably some 12-17 year old boys making immature jokes on the internet too.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Oh My God, Sharkey, how dare you (make a joke that no one got)!!!
For their clarification, a satirical reference, the film, Team America: World Police, is already a confession, no, yay, more of a anthem of pride in America’s awesomeness (which is yes, retarded). Here are more of those fine fine lyrics by Trey Parker:
America…
America…
America, FUCK YEAH!
Coming again, to save the mother fucking day yeah,
America, FUCK YEAH!
Freedom is the only way yeah,
Terrorist your game is through cause now you have to answer too,
America, FUCK YEAH!
So lick my butt, and suck on my balls,
America, FUCK YEAH!
What you going to do when we come for you now,
it’s the dream that we all share; it’s the hope for tomorrow
FUCK YEAH!
McDonalds, FUCK YEAH!
Wal-Mart, FUCK YEAH!
The Gap, FUCK YEAH!
Baseball, FUCK YEAH!
NFL, FUCK, YEAH!
Rock and roll, FUCK YEAH!
The Internet, FUCK YEAH!
Slavery, FUCK YEAH!
FUCK YEAH!
Starbucks, FUCK YEAH!
Disney world, FUCK YEAH!
Porno, FUCK YEAH!
Valium, FUCK YEAH!
Reeboks, FUCK YEAH!
Fake Tits, FUCK YEAH!
Sushi, FUCK YEAH!
Taco Bell, FUCK YEAH!
Rodeos, FUCK YEAH!
Bed bath and beyond (Fuck yeah, Fuck yeah)
Liberty, FUCK YEAH!
White Slips, FUCK YEAH!
The Alamo, FUCK YEAH!
Band-aids, FUCK YEAH!
Las Vegas, FUCK YEAH!
Christmas, FUCK YEAH!
Immigrants, FUCK YEAH!
Popeye, FUCK YEAH!
Democrats, FUCK YEAH!
Republicans (republicans)
(fuck yeah, fuck yeah)
Sportsmanship
Books
July 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I love how no one got that joke by sharkey. Remember folks, people are just people.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:56 am
MATT DAMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2008 at 1:59 am
FUCK YEA MEGADETH FTW,
AMERICA FUCK YEAH
FUK YEAH BITCH ASS
July 18th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Come people, why can’t you just appreciate the nature of the article/picture, why the hell does every website turn into an America/Europe/anything bashing festival… its ridiculous… Anyway, the music itself is hauntingly beautiful and surely we all can appreciate that…
By the way, someone that lashes out at someone for being a stupid American is just as guilty as the morons they try to persecute… apparently centuries of fighting and warfare hasn’t been enough for people to look beyond their petty differences and appreciate the world for the boundless beauty that it offers…
Oh, and as a proud American who happens to be in his fourth year of college and hopes to soon study for a masters and then a PhD… please chill out with the stupid American bullshit… unless your referring to our president of course…