The space harp, also known as a frankiphone, is an electrified

lamellophone A lamellophone (also lamellaphone or linguaphone) is a member of the family of musical instruments that makes its sound by a thin vibrating plate called a lamella or tongue, which is fixed at one end and has the other end free. When the musician ...

invented by

Phil Cohran Kelan Phil Cohran (May 8, 1927 June 28, 2017) was an American jazz musician. He was best known for playing trumpet in the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago from 1959 to 1961, and for his involvement in the foundation of the Association for the Advance ...

as part of a musicological experiment exploring his African roots. He named it after his mother, Frankie. It was first recorded during his tenure with

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

on his album " Angels and Demons at Play". Later recordings of the space harp include his work in the 1960s with The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, now available on the album entitled ''On the Beach''. This album consists of recordings of The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, which included a number of well known musicians including

Don Myrick Donald Myrick (April 6, 1940 – July 30, 1993) was an American saxophonist. A member of the Phenix Horns, he was best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins. He played alto, tenor, and soprano sax as a member of Earth, W ...

(horn player with

Earth, Wind and Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling ba ...

), Pete Cosey (guitarist with

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...

) and "Master" Henry Gibson (studio percussionist for

Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

). Released in 2007, the entire album revolves around the rhythmic and harmonic stylings of the space harp.

References

and his Myth Science Arkestra. Angels and Demons at Play. Saturn SR 9956-2-0/P (between 1963 and 1967); Saturn LP 407; Impulse AS 9245 (1974); Evidence (1993). (Possibly the first recording of an electrified

thumb piano Mbira ( ; ) are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and ...

.) *

& The Artistic Heritage Ensemble. ''On the Beach''. Katalyst (2007). Comb lamellophones {{Lamellophone-stub