Strophonion
2010 - present time
2010 - present time
(photo by Janina Janke, 2014)
The strophonion is a custom, wireless electronic instrument whose software and hardware components were developed and built at STEIM, the STudio for Electro-Instrumental Music in Amsterdam. It belongs to the instrument group of gesture-controlled live electronics, providing 21 buttons and various types of sensors to measure the movements of hands and arms. The gained data, be it momentary or continuous, is translated via MIDI messages into sonic and musical parameters.
Developed for the usage in the context of vocal performance art, the strophonion allows the performer to control different audio processing strategies in real time. By applying a variety of live sampling techniques, the instrument enables the performer to extend the voice and to explore the potential of vocal material during the performance act. Since the strophonion's controllers are wirelessly connected to the computer, the vocal performance artist is able to move about freely onstage, thus operating right at the intersection between human voice, body, and technology.
Developed for the usage in the context of vocal performance art, the strophonion allows the performer to control different audio processing strategies in real time. By applying a variety of live sampling techniques, the instrument enables the performer to extend the voice and to explore the potential of vocal material during the performance act. Since the strophonion's controllers are wirelessly connected to the computer, the vocal performance artist is able to move about freely onstage, thus operating right at the intersection between human voice, body, and technology.
The software configuration based on LiSa (abbreviation for live sampling) and junXion, an application to detect and connect incoming sensor data, was developed by the principal programmer at STEIM, Frank Baldé, and constantly refined until 2016. Currently, the instrument as a whole is maintained by Berlin-based instrument designer and programmer Sukandar Kartadinata who, from summer 2015 until the end of 2018, worked on the development and implementation of a new configuration based on the audio processing software Max 7.
Read more here for further information on the instrument's research and development process, links to audio and video material of performances with the strophonion as well as to online articles and expositions!
Read more here for further information on the instrument's research and development process, links to audio and video material of performances with the strophonion as well as to online articles and expositions!
Stimmflieger [voice kite]
2007 - 2016
2007 - 2016
(photo by Frank Baldé, 2009)
The stimmflieger is a wireless, electronic instrument consisting of two Wii remotes, interface and computer. The applied software configuration was developed at STEIM, the STudio for Electro-Instrumental Music in Amsterdam, in close collaboration with sound artist Daniel Schorno. The world premiere of the stimmflieger took place at the Schaubuehne Berlin in 2008. In 2009, at the World New Music Days in Gothenburg hosted by the International Society of Contemporary Music, A.N. was awarded the first prize by the European Conference of Promoters for New Music (ECPNM) for performing the composition Minotaurus featuring voice and live electronics, that is to say, the stimmflieger.
Based on the audio processing software LiSa, an abbreviation for live sampling, and the connectivity software junXion, the custom configuration was developed in very close collaboration with sound artist Daniel Schorno during the period of one year from 2007 through to 2008.
Based on the audio processing software LiSa, an abbreviation for live sampling, and the connectivity software junXion, the custom configuration was developed in very close collaboration with sound artist Daniel Schorno during the period of one year from 2007 through to 2008.
The world premiere of the stimmflieger took place at the Schaubuehne Berlin in 2008. In 2009, at the World New Music Days in Gothenburg hosted by the International Society of Contemporary Music, A.N. was awarded the first prize by the European Conference of Promoters for New Music (ECPNM) for performing the composition Minotaurus featuring voice and live electronics, that is to say, the stimmflieger.
The stimmflieger was developed for the purpose to extend the voice in the context of vocal performance art and to explore the vocal potential by means of gesture-controlled and sensor-based technology. The term stimmflieger, a German neologism translating into English as voice kite, was created to allude to the similar movements that need to be applied to fly a kite and those to play the instrument.
For more information read article 'Voice and Live-Electronics using Remotes as Gestural Controllers (2008)' in econtact!:
https://econtact.ca/10_4/nowitz_voicelive.html.
Read more for more information on the profile of the stimmflieger, such as world premiere, ECPNM award, etc.
The stimmflieger was developed for the purpose to extend the voice in the context of vocal performance art and to explore the vocal potential by means of gesture-controlled and sensor-based technology. The term stimmflieger, a German neologism translating into English as voice kite, was created to allude to the similar movements that need to be applied to fly a kite and those to play the instrument.
For more information read article 'Voice and Live-Electronics using Remotes as Gestural Controllers (2008)' in econtact!:
https://econtact.ca/10_4/nowitz_voicelive.html.
Read more for more information on the profile of the stimmflieger, such as world premiere, ECPNM award, etc.
Strophonion
(2010 - present time)
The strophonion is a custom, wireless electronic instrument whose software and hardware components were developed and built at STEIM, the STudio for Electro-Instrumental Music in Amsterdam. It belongs to the instrument group of gesture-controlled live electronics, providing 21 buttons and various types of sensors to measure the movements of hands and arms that, based on momentary and continuous data, are translated via MIDI messages into sonic and/or musical parameters.
(2010 - present time)
The strophonion is a custom, wireless electronic instrument whose software and hardware components were developed and built at STEIM, the STudio for Electro-Instrumental Music in Amsterdam. It belongs to the instrument group of gesture-controlled live electronics, providing 21 buttons and various types of sensors to measure the movements of hands and arms that, based on momentary and continuous data, are translated via MIDI messages into sonic and/or musical parameters.
The research and development process took two years from 2010 through to 2011. Adapting to different performance situations and spaces, the fine tuning of the instrument took another five years.
The software configuration was developed and constantly refined until 2016 by the principal programmer at STEIM, Frank Baldé. Currently, the instrument as a whole is maintained by Berlin-based instrument designer and programmer Sukandar Kartadinata who, starting in 2016, developed and implemented a configuration based on the audio processing software Max 7.
The software configuration was developed and constantly refined until 2016 by the principal programmer at STEIM, Frank Baldé. Currently, the instrument as a whole is maintained by Berlin-based instrument designer and programmer Sukandar Kartadinata who, starting in 2016, developed and implemented a configuration based on the audio processing software Max 7.
Altogether a good number of people was/is involved in the process of researching and developing the possibilities of the instrument. For more information on this aspect and the applied technology read the STEIM project blog 'The Strophonion – Instrument Development (2010-2011)':
https://steim.org/2012/01/alex-nowitz-the-strophonion-instrument-development-2010-2011/.
The term 'strophonion' is composed by three Greek syllables: strophé, phoné and ion. For more information on this, conceptual thoughts and choreographic ideas read 'Designing and Playing the Strophonion: Extending vocal art performance using a custom digital music instrument', in econtact! 18.3 — Sonic DIY: Repurposing the Creative Self (December 2016):
https://econtact.ca/18_3/nowitz_strophonion.html.
https://steim.org/2012/01/alex-nowitz-the-strophonion-instrument-development-2010-2011/.
The term 'strophonion' is composed by three Greek syllables: strophé, phoné and ion. For more information on this, conceptual thoughts and choreographic ideas read 'Designing and Playing the Strophonion: Extending vocal art performance using a custom digital music instrument', in econtact! 18.3 — Sonic DIY: Repurposing the Creative Self (December 2016):
https://econtact.ca/18_3/nowitz_strophonion.html.
To learn more about the strophonion Read FAQ.
List of public presentations of vocal performance art applying live electronicx
Details on Strophonion and Stimmflieger
Strophonion
The ergonomics and housings of the hand controllers were implemented by former violin maker, visual artist Florian Goettke (Amsterdam, PhD), the electronics were assembled by sound and performance artist Byungjun Kwon (Seoul) and supervised by Takuro Mizuta Lippit aka DJ Sniff (Tokio). In 2016, on the basis of the original a new pair of hand controllers was developed by Venice-based designer Nicolò Merendino aka Chi-ha-ucciso-Il-Conte? (Venice) assembled and by Sukandar Berlin-based Kartadinata
Apart from 21 key buttons, one ultrasonic distance sensor, a pressure sensor, and a 3D accelerometer are available to control sonic and musical parameters.
Takuro Dj Sniff
sound artist Daniel Schorno.
read more (information on world premiere, ECPNM award and article on econtact!)
Stimmflieger
development during the period of one year from 2007 through to 2008
2008 World premiere
as part of the theatre spectacle 'Die Stadt' (The City by Martin Crimp) und 'Der Schnitt' (The Cut by Mark Ravenhill) directed by Thomas Ostermeier at the Schaubuehne Berlin.
ECPNM
2009 ECPNM AWARD
A.N. was awarded the first prize of the European Conference of Promoters for New Music (ECPNM) after premiering the work Minotaurus for voice and live electronics during the World New Music Days in Gothenburg by the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM).
2011 A good number of fine tuning sessions needed to be performed until the research and development project was completed. The Apple bluetooth connection was creating problems here and there
2016 (provisionally) last performance with the stimmflieger
Last performance 2016 as part of the solo show 'Tongues and Ghosts' at the fabrik Potsdam in 2016.
read more
Strophonion
The ergonomics and housings of the hand controllers were implemented by former violin maker, visual artist Florian Goettke (Amsterdam, PhD), the electronics were assembled by sound and performance artist Byungjun Kwon (Seoul) and supervised by Takuro Mizuta Lippit aka DJ Sniff (Tokio). In 2016, on the basis of the original a new pair of hand controllers was developed by Venice-based designer Nicolò Merendino aka Chi-ha-ucciso-Il-Conte? (Venice) assembled and by Sukandar Berlin-based Kartadinata
Apart from 21 key buttons, one ultrasonic distance sensor, a pressure sensor, and a 3D accelerometer are available to control sonic and musical parameters.
Takuro Dj Sniff
sound artist Daniel Schorno.
read more (information on world premiere, ECPNM award and article on econtact!)
Stimmflieger
development during the period of one year from 2007 through to 2008
2008 World premiere
as part of the theatre spectacle 'Die Stadt' (The City by Martin Crimp) und 'Der Schnitt' (The Cut by Mark Ravenhill) directed by Thomas Ostermeier at the Schaubuehne Berlin.
ECPNM
2009 ECPNM AWARD
A.N. was awarded the first prize of the European Conference of Promoters for New Music (ECPNM) after premiering the work Minotaurus for voice and live electronics during the World New Music Days in Gothenburg by the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM).
2011 A good number of fine tuning sessions needed to be performed until the research and development project was completed. The Apple bluetooth connection was creating problems here and there
2016 (provisionally) last performance with the stimmflieger
Last performance 2016 as part of the solo show 'Tongues and Ghosts' at the fabrik Potsdam in 2016.
read more