Per Bloland compositeur en résidence recherche musicale

Exit Seminar: A Physical Model of Electromagnet-String Interaction

“The goal of this project has been to develop a physical model of the coupling between a resonator (such as a piano string) and an electromagnet. This coupling has now been incorporated into Modalys as a new connection type, called “induction.” The source for this study has been the Electromagnetically-Prepared Piano, which consists of a rack of twelve electromagnets placed over a piano frame, each electromagnet positioned over the group of strings that represent a single pitch. Each electromagnet is controlled by an arbitrary external audio signal, resulting in a great deal of variety and control over both pitch and timbre. The physical model of this interaction provides a greater degree of freedom, allowing the both the resonating body and the electromagnet to be of any shape and size and constructed of any material.