The ice, if sculpted ad hoccan vibrate and produce sounds when it is beaten, pinched or rubbed, so it is possible to play it. The temperature is essential for this to happen: the tools must be stored in very cold environments, around -5 ° C, to prevent them from deforming or melting. The tools are built with transparent ice blocks or iced water blocks obtained from lakes or rivers, which offer a particular sound quality.
Breath music. In addition, these tools are particularly fragile, if not treated with care, could break or damage. Another feature is the limited duration of the instrument which obviously does not last as a classic tool. Usually the handle and the “bus” are built in wood, so that when you play it, there is no danger that the ice melts with human heat. In Sweden there is a festival dedicated to these particular tools that are played in live performances and is called The Ice Music Festival.
