The 28th edition of the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition already has its finalists. Ten designs are competing in this Georgia Tech contest, which awards up to 10,000 dollars for innovation in instruments. Standouts include Fiddle Henge, a set of four violins mounted on a bass drum, a modular synthesizer that uses saltwater as a conductor, and a hybrid between cello and veena. The winner will be announced on March 14.
Playful Interface and Liquid Conductivity: The Technical Approaches âš¡
Fiddle Henge proposes a circular performance interface: a rotating disk rubs the strings of the four violins, allowing control of dynamics and phrasing with rotational movement. In another realm, the saltwater synthesizer replaces traditional patch cables with liquid connections. The conductivity of the water, altered by the distance between electrodes or by adding salt, modulates sound parameters such as frequency or amplitude.
Is the Future of the Orchestra a Garden with a Bass Drum? 🤔
With these designs, one can imagine the rehearsal of the next symphony. The percussionist, in addition to the cymbals, must rotate a disk to activate the string section. The sound technician, instead of a soldering iron, carries a pitcher and a salt shaker to adjust the synthesizer. And the conductor, with his baton, points with concern at the cellist who now has to tune 20 symmetrical strings. Tour logistics get complicated.