On the first full moon of the year, the mountain town of Geilo, Norway hosts the world’s only ice music festival and most amazingly, the instruments are made mostly of ice.

As short-lived as sandcastles, the ice-sculpted wind, string and percussion instruments give off surprising new sounds that vary according to the quality of the ice and the surrounding temperatures.

American ice sculptor Bill Cowitz is the creator of these unusual intruments which he has made for the IceMusic Festival for the past four years, including this year’s recently finished one. This tickles my Nordic bones (or ears) and makes me want to be there and hear them next year.

Somewhat related older posts:
Artscape Nordland, Norway
Snow Artist
The Snow Show
Snow Show Architect wins Prize