Ukrainian composer Roman Hryhoriev has turned a weapon of war into an instrument of art, creating a musical instrument from an unexploded Uragan rocket. The munition was cleared of explosives and fitted with cello strings. Hryhoriev composed two pieces for the instrument, whose sound has been described as piercing, metallic and mournful.
“For me, this is not just an instrument; it is a symbol of the horror our people have endured,” the composer explains. “No other instrument can convey the pain and power contained in this rocket.”
Hryhoriev is continuing a tradition of musicians seeking to show the superiority of art over war. Other artists have also turned weapons into musical instruments over the years. Cuban musician César López, for example, made guitars from Kalashnikov rifles, symbolizing a transition from war to peace. American maker Lucas Fraser crafted a violin from an old rifle as a protest against violence. And in Mexico, weapons confiscated from drug cartels were turned into wind and percussion instruments, underscoring the power of art over destruction. These projects show that even symbols of war can find a new life in music.
