Ellen Fullman

Ellen Fullman was born in 1957 in Memphis, TN. She feels her devotion to a career in music was initiated at the age of one, when Elvis Presley kissed her hand and said, "Hi-ya, baby!" Since 1981, she has been experimenting with wire, resonator boxes, and tuning systems to produce an installation, the Long String Instrument, which fills her warehouse studio. Fullman currently lives and works in Seattle.

She has received several awards and commissions, including a one year residency in Berlin from the Deutscher Akademisher Austauschdienst (DAAD) beginning in September 2000. Her CD releases include Body Music (XI); Suspended Music, in collaboration with the Deep Listening Band (Periplum); and Change of Direction (New Albion).

“The Long String Instrument (LSI) produces a unique almost orchestral sound, based on the overtones produced by longitudinally vibrating long strings. It is played by rubbing the strings with rosin-coated fingertips, while walking. The instrument is tuned in just intonation, a natural tuning system. The large physical scale of the installation and the way that the overtones interact with the space turn the room itself into a giant musical instrument.

Sunday Sessions [sub harmonic series] is a chamber improvisation ensemble that has met weekly since the beginning of this year. Angelina Baldoz (trumpet), Ellen Fullman (LSI), Lori Goldston (cello), Paul Hoskin (contrabass clarinet), Robert Jenkins (electric guitar), Frances Woods (violin).”