Jobe’s first idea for a large-scale instrument was the Drone Machine, designed and constructed by Nate Pearson in 1991. It was used in both productions of Jeanne d’Arc (1993 and 1997), as well several productions of the Pan-Twilight Circus, and in A Christmas Carol at Trinity Repertory Co. The instrument is seven feet long and constructed out of an oil drum cut in half length-wise with a plywood top. A crank on one end turns a wooden wheel that vibrates four bass-range strings, creating a powerful droning sound. A wheeled cart moves the instrument about onstage.

Drawing inspiration from the triptych, Millennium (aka The Garden of Earthly Delights) by Renaissance artist Heironymus Bosch, Jobe conceived the notion of an even larger hurdy-gurdy. This instrument would feature Jobe’s innovation of three wheels, each with a separate function: melody, rhythm (trompette) and bass drone. The initial design and construction was done by Providence artist Jeremy Woodward in 2002-03. In 2006, luthier Daniel Thonon completed the Bosch Hurdy-Hurdy at his workshop near Montreal.

Another instrument inspired by Bosch, Jobe had the notion of positioning two large gongs back-to-back, placing them at either end of a resonating chamber. Providence artist Dennis Hlynsky was commissioned to design and construct the Gong-Drum, and it was finished in time to be part of the Bosch’s Garden production in December 2001.