Geophone (musical instrument) Geophone (musical instrument) The geophone is a percussion instrument, invented by the French composer Olivier Messiaen for use in his large composition for piano and orchestra entitled "Des canyons aux étoiles…" ("From the canyons to the stars…"). It consists of a drum filled with thousands of small lead pellets, and is played by swirling it around slowly so that the noise of the pellets resembles the sound of dry shifting earth. Messiaen commissioned a Parisian instrument maker to construct one to his design, and he carried this instrument worldwide to early performances of the piece (which was given its first
Institute of Musical Instrument Technology u. Söhne Pianos) and Dr William McVicker (Royal Festival Hall). Corporate members of the institute use the letters F.I.M.I.T. (Fellow of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology), and M.I.M.I.T. (Member of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology). Honorary Life Members and Honorary Life Fellows are also Corporate members. Associates use the initials A.I.M.I.T. (Associate of the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology) but are Non-corporate members. Honorary Fellows, Students, Companions, and Graduates are not Corporate members. The Institute publishes a Newsletter and an annual "Directory", both of which are available exclusively to its membership. The current President/Secretary is Malcolm Dalton FIMIT;