Ellen Fullman

Ellen Fullman is a seminal figure in American experimental music, best known for inventing the Long String Instrument (LSI) in 1981. Her work sits at the intersection of sculpture, performance art, and microtonal composition.

By stretching metallic wires across vast distances (often 70 feet or more) and playing them with rosined fingers, she produces longitudinal vibrations that emphasize the harmonic series. Her career arc began in the post-minimalist scene of the 1980s, influenced by the 'Deep Listening' philosophy of Pauline Oliveros and the structural rigor of Arnold Dreyblatt. Fullman's music is characterized by its use of just intonation, which provides a resonant clarity often missing in equal temperament. Critically, she is revered for her ability to transform physical space into a resonant chamber, making the architecture itself part of the instrument. Her influence extends to contemporary drone, ambient, and avant-garde circles, where she is viewed as a pioneer of acoustic synthesis. Recent collaborations with artists like Okkyung Lee and Theresa Wong have further cemented her relevance in the modern experimental landscape.