KAMER/TON
GRANUSPINU
AAAA
AEROMEMBRANOPHONE
AUTOVIOLA
POST-DIGITAL SAX
KAMERTONY
MODULAR PROCESS MUSIC
PNEUMATOFONY
MEMO/MOVE
TAPE SAMPLER
AUTOSAMPLER
CLSZ
ACOUSTIC HARMONIC SYNTH
FEEDBOXES
ACOUSTIC ADDITIVE SYNTH
FEEDBACK SYNTH
SPECTRAL SCORE
ELEKTRISK ORANSJE
MORPH
ABBBEEEIKKR
TAPE GLITCH
Autoviola is an acoustic bowed string instrument, capable of playing chords, with additional possibility of full digital control of the pitch for various digital augmentations and manipulations.
Initial inspiration for the concept of the Autoviola was the instrument known as autoharp (also called chord zither). The primary assumption guiding the construction of the Autoviola was the use of digitally controlled mechanisms for selective muting of twelve chromatically tuned strings, which in turn should enable full control over the played chords in one octave range. Additionally, the digital control of the muting mechanisms was intended to allow for digital extensions such as automatic chord generation and remote control of harmonies based on algorithms. Another assumption was to build the instrument in a form that allows for arco playing.
After a couple of iterations, the final, fourth prototype of Autoviola was a fully functional, complete instrument. As such, it was used for the rehearsals and live performances. The necessity for combining all considerations - aesthetic functional, mechanical and ergonomic - determined the final form of the instrument. After experiments with various types of steel strings, I eventually settled on "synthetic gut strings" originally made for tennis rackets, which only come in two very similar gauges. This quality required variation in the string lengths, necessary for receiving desited tuning, resulting in a distinctive harp-like appearance of the instrument's neck. The neck was also designed in a way that provided space for the mechanical and electronic components, which reside in the central part of the instrument.
Aesthetically, the instrument's form is inspired by three historical instruments:
- the shape of the body is modeled after the vielle;
- the construction and form of the neck, refer in certain aspects to the viola di bordone;
- the aesthetic of the entire instrument were also inspired by the lira da gamba (also known as lirone), which, like Autoviola, primarily serves a function of a harmonic instrument, providing chordal accompaniment for other instruments;
Autoviola, together with two other instruments, is forming the AAAA project, which was the basis of my PhD thesis. (LINK)
Autoviola in performance with P-D Sax and Aeromembranophone:
