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Do you drum it, strum it or stroke it? | Do you drum it, strum it or stroke it? |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News | By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News |
Advertisement | Advertisement |
The Eigenharp is put through its paces by three musicians in live performance | The Eigenharp is put through its paces by three musicians in live performance |
It looks like something played by the alien musicians in the bar in Star Wars. | It looks like something played by the alien musicians in the bar in Star Wars. |
It can be made to sound like it too. | It can be made to sound like it too. |
The flagship Eigenharp Alpha comes with a price tag not far short of £4,000 | The flagship Eigenharp Alpha comes with a price tag not far short of £4,000 |
This is the Eigenharp - described by its developers as "the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made". | This is the Eigenharp - described by its developers as "the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made". |
One of my colleagues calls it more simply "a sci-fi bassoon". | One of my colleagues calls it more simply "a sci-fi bassoon". |
The Eigenharp is the brainchild of John Lambert, a musician and software entrepreneur, whose Devon-based team has been working on the project for eight years. | The Eigenharp is the brainchild of John Lambert, a musician and software entrepreneur, whose Devon-based team has been working on the project for eight years. |
Gig stress | Gig stress |
The idea dates back to the early 90s when Lambert played in ambient trance band Shen, who would travel to concerts in a truck packed with musical gear. | The idea dates back to the early 90s when Lambert played in ambient trance band Shen, who would travel to concerts in a truck packed with musical gear. |
"The gigs were really good fun," says Lambert, "but the setting up was just a nightmare. Lots of stuff, equipment, wires, endless stress. | "The gigs were really good fun," says Lambert, "but the setting up was just a nightmare. Lots of stuff, equipment, wires, endless stress. |
"At the same time I would go to the folk club, take my acoustic guitar out of the box, tune it up, get a pint of beer, and play." | "At the same time I would go to the folk club, take my acoustic guitar out of the box, tune it up, get a pint of beer, and play." |
Lambert says the new instrument bridges that gap - bringing a vast range of sounds and drum loops to the fingertips of live performers. | Lambert says the new instrument bridges that gap - bringing a vast range of sounds and drum loops to the fingertips of live performers. |
But what's it like to play? | But what's it like to play? |
We've got pretty fed up with watching people twiddle knobs on stage John Lambert, Eigenharp inventor | We've got pretty fed up with watching people twiddle knobs on stage John Lambert, Eigenharp inventor |
It initially comes across as a baffling array of buttons with winking red lights. But it doesn't take long to get a broad spectrum of sounds out of the 132 keys, two strip controllers and the breath pipe. | It initially comes across as a baffling array of buttons with winking red lights. But it doesn't take long to get a broad spectrum of sounds out of the 132 keys, two strip controllers and the breath pipe. |
Octaves and scales can be changed at the tap of a button. The Alpha model - aimed at professional musicians - costs £3,950. There's a smaller Pico version for £349. | Octaves and scales can be changed at the tap of a button. The Alpha model - aimed at professional musicians - costs £3,950. There's a smaller Pico version for £349. |
Theremins and phones | Theremins and phones |
Of course, dozens of electronic instruments have come and gone over the years. | Of course, dozens of electronic instruments have come and gone over the years. |
Could this be the end of keyboards on stage? | Could this be the end of keyboards on stage? |
Some - like the theremin or Mellotron - have been around for decades and are still in use today. Many others are gathering dust at the back of recording studios. | Some - like the theremin or Mellotron - have been around for decades and are still in use today. Many others are gathering dust at the back of recording studios. |
In an age when complex music-making applications are being made for mobile phones, isn't there a danger that technology might overtake the Eigenharp? | In an age when complex music-making applications are being made for mobile phones, isn't there a danger that technology might overtake the Eigenharp? |
"No," says Lambert. "More likely our decision to make the software for the instrument run on a separate computer will pay off - we are already looking at porting the software perhaps into the PlayStation or Wii." | "No," says Lambert. "More likely our decision to make the software for the instrument run on a separate computer will pay off - we are already looking at porting the software perhaps into the PlayStation or Wii." |
Lambert points out that many artists no longer make a living from record sales alone. Live tours have become a major source of revenue. | Lambert points out that many artists no longer make a living from record sales alone. Live tours have become a major source of revenue. |
He is upbeat about the response from a wide range of performers, including those working in classical music, rock and electronica. | He is upbeat about the response from a wide range of performers, including those working in classical music, rock and electronica. |
"The most unexpected thing for me has been the interest from drummers," he says. | "The most unexpected thing for me has been the interest from drummers," he says. |
Goth rock | Goth rock |
Distant cousin: bassoon action from 1942 | Distant cousin: bassoon action from 1942 |
He says there is one high-profile musician who is about to take delivery of an Eigenharp, but won't give any names. | He says there is one high-profile musician who is about to take delivery of an Eigenharp, but won't give any names. |
"Proper musicians want to take this away and learn it before they come out." | "Proper musicians want to take this away and learn it before they come out." |
Lambert does expect some criticism from musicians, but does not think the price tag will put people off. | Lambert does expect some criticism from musicians, but does not think the price tag will put people off. |
"They're going to say it's too expensive. This is a difficult instrument to make cheaply," he says. | "They're going to say it's too expensive. This is a difficult instrument to make cheaply," he says. |
"I would be really shocked not to see these out in live situations within six to 12 months. | "I would be really shocked not to see these out in live situations within six to 12 months. |
"It's not just the sonic thing - they are visually compelling, and there's a reason for that - we've got pretty fed up with watching people twiddle knobs on stage. | "It's not just the sonic thing - they are visually compelling, and there's a reason for that - we've got pretty fed up with watching people twiddle knobs on stage. |
"It was interesting once when we watched Kraftwerk and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark do it back in the 70s and 80s, but it's not fun in 2009." | "It was interesting once when we watched Kraftwerk and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark do it back in the 70s and 80s, but it's not fun in 2009." |
And the big question: is the Eigenharp cool enough for a Slash-style guitar solo? | And the big question: is the Eigenharp cool enough for a Slash-style guitar solo? |
"We were demonstrating it to someone who is in a goth band," says Lambert, "and they were really up for it - so yes. We're making one in jet black. I think people are really going to rock out with these on stage." | "We were demonstrating it to someone who is in a goth band," says Lambert, "and they were really up for it - so yes. We're making one in jet black. I think people are really going to rock out with these on stage." |