It took Trimpin several years just to develop a prototype of Fire Organ, then additional time to learn its capabilities and how to play it.

For Trimpin, sound is spatial. A sound is defined not only by tone and tempo, but also by which direction it’s coming from. Although he’s been a professional artist for over 25 years, for many years he had to supplement his income with other jobs, such as working at an electronic music store and salmon fishing in Alaska.

The instruments he invents are remarkable both for their originally and engineering genius. The Fire Organ is controlled by a complex electrical system run by a computer. It can be played manually or by a preprogrammed score.