The musical instruments invented by Jeff Snyder are inspired by age-old techniques of instrument building. Combining this inherited knowledge of luthiers with compositional ideas based on intonation alone, it might not be surprising that the work of composer and instrument … read more
Points of Contact by Erfan Abdi
Big eyes as contact microphones, a bird cage as a loudspeaker, and two double spring objects of which one functions as a microphone and the other as a loudspeaker: this is the inventive set-up Erfan Abdi uses for his performance … read more
Vestiges of Discomposition and other works by Simon Whetham
Before Simon Whetham begins his performance, he asks you to close your eyes. However, I could not help but open my eyes briefly a few times. I saw Simon walking around slowly, holding a cymbal in his hands. A tactile … read more
Fifty years of loudspeakers and ping pong balls
Some objects seem particularly suitable for use in preparing loudspeakers. Perhaps ping pong balls were favored objects for this due to their lightness and characteristic sound. Comparing several of these set-ups reveals that—fortunately!—using a similar technology can still result in … read more
Doppelbelichtung by Carola Bauckholt
Carola Bauckholt has written several pieces in which the imitation of bird sounds plays an important role. Examples are Lichtung (2011), for string quartet, and Zugvögel (2011/2012), for five wind instruments. In her piece Doppelbelichtung (2016), for the first time, … read more
Tonewood by Hugo Morales Murguía
Tonewood I (2011) and Tonewood II (2015) by Hugo Morales Murguía use small tactile transducers with corks attached to their cones. Five musicians play their instruments with these transducers. The transducers do not sound at all, as long as they … read more
p. 119 Aptium by Lynn Pook
A short interview with Lynn Pook about her work Aptium (unfortunately just in French!):
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p. 116 Stircrazer IV by Sabrina Schroeder
Stircrazer IV (2015) by Sabrina Schroeder, using tactile transducers on bass drums:
p. 115 Rainforest by David Tudor
Several performances of Rainforest (1968-1973) by David Tudor, all using different objects attached to tactile transducers: