Playing overtones via approximation
This new instrument combines the pipe organ and the Theremin. The pipes are at the same time sound generators and sensors for proximity that control the amount of air. Accordingly a distant position sends a small amount of air through the pipes, which creates soft overtones, fffffrrrrs, humming and hissing. Thus getting closer produces a full note sound.
Experimental instrument building
The instrument may either be played ‚plain‘ with a direct relation of proximity and the amount of wind (air in organ building jargon), or in addition extented with further reaction details which may be programmed as part of the composition. Technically there are three intertwining components: pipes that function as capacitive proximity sensors, hand-made arduino controlled valves that regulate the wind supply in place of an organ’s usual open/close key mechanism and a detailed PD programming that shapes the interaction.
Signal flow
The signal flow goes from the Theremin boxes attached to the pipes, to the Arduino board, via MIDI and data cable to the computer, further into the Arduino software which monitors the signal flow and via MIDI into a Pure Data Patch. This patch offers the possibility of making various settings and in turn sends back midi data that determines the opening of the valves in the windchest. In the windchest, the signal flow meets the wind flow that runs from the wind generator via the throttle to the bellows and finally into the windchest. In the windchest, servomotors control how far the valve opens and the wind flow then continues via hoses to the pipes.
Soundart
This novel organ allows composers and musicians direct access to overtones, noise, microtones and microtonal shifts.
Originally crafted for the soundinstalltion ‚close| distant‘, the proximity organ is open for exhibitions and collaborations.
team
The project was startet in 2021 as a collaboration of Heike Waldner-Kaltenbrunner and Mathias Lenz and was furhermore realised from 2022 – 2023 in Vienna and Berlin with a wonderful team of specialists:
idea, concept | Heike Kaltenbrunner
mechanical engineering, wind-control | Mathias Lenz
arduino / C | Mathias Lenz, Frank Dietrich
sensors | Mathias Lenz, Sukandar Kartadinata, Frank Dietrich
PD-programming | Oliver Stotz, Marcus Zepp, Heike Kaltenbrunner
pipes | Walther Vonbank
electrotechnical advancements, 3D printing | Boris Shershenkov
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Many thanks to:
the whole team! and Manuel Mayr for music theoretical advice, Kunstverein das weisse haus for hosting our prototyping session in vienna, Schrattenberg for accomodation in Styria, our families for all the suppurt: Florian, Erika, Christine, Carola und Jutta; Networking support by: Michael Thieke, Burkhard Stangl & Michael Vorfeld; Kirche zur Heimat for letting me exploring on their organ; Lisbeth Kovacic for the photo documentation, Sabine Marte for the stand; Manfred Miersch & Medienwerkstatt Berlin for help and for providing this wonderful infrastructure; Todd Anderson for English translations, Rainer Nass for soldering, Alexander Moosbrugger; Westbahnstudios, Peter Kutin, Chukwudi Chime, Errant Sound, Steffi Weismann, TAM-Lab;
Find more details on the building process here