The Period Instrument

This paper presents the Period Instrument, an interface for musical expression that requires the input of menstrual blood in order to be played. Drawing from both experimental musical instrument design and feminist design, the resulting object exists both as a sound-making device as well as a vector for challenging normative principles of musical instrument design. Moreover, the Period Instrument represents a particular representation and physical embodiment of time. We will discuss the design and technological development of the instrument, focusing primarily on how designing with and for time constraints can result in new interfaces for musical expression.