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Sormina
A musical instrument employing wooden keys and a wireless connection to the computer
Ja päällämme sininen taivas,
Ja läntinen lehtistä laaksoa soittaa
Lintujen laulaes.
Heilahda korkeelle, keinu,
Ja liehukoon impeni liina
Illalla lempeäl.
-- Aleksis Kivi, a Finnish poet, Keinu (Swing)
Overview
Sormina is a musical instrument creating sound art and video art. The instrument consists of three parts: a tangible interface, computer software, and a wireless connection to the computer. It is created as part of a doctoral dissertation project, funded by the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.Instrument building project
The aim of the project is to gain knowledge about instruments, and their impact in music. We think that the material quality of instruments has had a major effect in the development of music in general. The concept of tone quality is historically parallel to the availability of raw material suitable for instruments.The purpose was to create a new instrument that would be as nuanced, and as easy to hold, as the violin. At the same time we wanted to have a modern instrument with electronic sounds and also visual output. Design and usability issues were of equal importance.
Sormina consists of eight keys that are rolled by fingers of left hand and right hand. The sensory data of the keys is transferred wirelessly to the computer in the form of MIDI controller messages. The keys control the parameters of the sound software and video software that are created specifically for Sormina.
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Technical detailsLatest news
Sormina in MySpace
Video art created with Sormina (YouTube)