Homage to B. Franklin

source: highlike

Work: In 1761, fascinated by glass harps, Benjamin Franklin invented the glass harmonica, an instrument which despite having attracted the attention of big names like Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Donizetti and Goethe, was misunderstood and doomed to oblivion. Homage to B. Franklin is an interactive sound installation. Like Franklin, we also got inspired by the glass harps, so popular in the eighteenth century and still enjoyed nowadays. With this reference in mind, we aim to realize a dialogue between the past and the approach to explore sonority from elements of everyday life -like simple crystal glasses filled with water- and the present, in which we use electronic synthesizers and tangible digital interfaces to generate music. In both cases, there is something magical about being able to generate music without necessarily being an instrumentalist, without making use of classical or conventional instruments. In both, the resulting sound is different from what these instruments can generate, but still music. Participation from the audience is essential for this work to make sense. This is not an artwork of mere contemplative character. We are interested in motivating the participation and the dialogue work-individual and between individuals, since this is a project in which one can interact in groups. Through interaction, we can reach new dimensions of sound. Another goal is to help break the myth that technological means may be inaccessible or difficult to understand, and be an instrument of approach making use of an interface known as the glass harps. From the movement of hands over the glasses, it is possible to define new sound patterns. Stimulating the senses, new creative possibilities emerge through the individual experience of each viewer. In that game generated by the representation of something so old, we propose a reinterpretation and a homage to Franklin and his harmonica.
Photographer: Fernanda Ramos
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
source: fileorgbr

Abstract:
Em 1761, fascinado pelas harpas de cristal, Benjamin Franklin inventou a harmônica de cristal, instrumento que apesar de ter despertado o interesse de grandes nomes como Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Donizetti e Goethe, foi mal compreendido e praticamente fadado ao esquecimento.
“Homage to B. Franklin” (“Homenagem a B. Franklin”) é uma instalação sonora interativa. Assim como Franklin, também nos inspiramos nas harpas de cristal, tão populares no século XVIII e que ainda hoje encantam a tantos. Buscamos, a partir dessa referência, realizar um diálogo entre o passado e aquele modo de elaborar a sonoridade a partir de elementos do cotidiano – como simples taças de cristal com água – e o presente, em que utilizamos sintetizadores eletrônicos e interfaces digitais tangíveis para gerar música. Em ambos casos, há algo mágico em poder gerar música sem necessariamente ser um instrumentista, sem fazer uso dos instrumentos clássicos ou convencionais. Em ambos, o som resultante é diferente do que esses instrumentos podem gerar, mas ainda assim, música.
A participação do espectador é fundamental para que esta peça tenha sentido. Não se trata de uma peça de mero caráter contemplativo. Interessa-nos motivar a participação e o diálogo obra-indivíduo e entre indivíduos, já que se trata de uma peça na qual se pode interagir em grupo. Através da interação, pode-se alcançar novas dimensões sonoras. Outro objetivo é ajudar a romper o mito de que os meios tecnológicos possam ser inacessíveis ou de difícil compreensão, e servir de instrumento de aproximação fazendo uso de uma interface já conhecida como as das harpas de cristal.
A partir do movimento das mãos sobre as taças, pode-se definir novos padrões sonoros. Estimulando os sentidos, surgem novas possibilidades criativas, através da experiência individual de cada espectador. Nesse jogo gerado pela representação de algo tão antigo, propomos uma releitura e uma justa homenagem, a Franklin e à sua harmônica.
Biography:
Lumen é um coletivo que realiza projetos em arte eletrônica sediado em Madrid (Espanha). Graças a um background vinculado às artes visuais e à programação audiovisual, Lumen conta com a experiência necessária para o desenvolvimento de projetos de arte interativa. Seus integrantes tiveram seus trabalhos expostos em festivais promovidos por instituições como Goethe-Institute, Medialab-Prado, Matadero Madrid e Ker Thiossane.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
source: fileorgbr

Abstract:
In 1761, fascinated by glass harps, Benjamin Franklin invented the glass harmonica, an instrument which despite having attracted the attention of big names big names like Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Donizetti and Goethe, was misunderstood and doomed to oblivion.
“Homage to B. Franklin” is an interactive sound installation. Like Franklin, we also go inspired by the glass harps, so popular in the eighteenth century and still enjoyed nowadays. With this reference in mind, we aim to accomplish a dialogue between the past and the approach to explore sonority from elements of everyday life – like simple crystal glasses filled with water – and the present, in which we use electronic synthesizers and tangible digital interfaces to generate music. In both cases, there is something magical about being able to generate music without necessarily being an instrumentalist, without making use of classical or conventional instruments. In both, the resulting sound is different from what these instruments can generate, but still music.
Participation from the audience is essential for this wok to make sense. This is not an artwork of mere contemplative character. We are interested in motivating the participation and the dialogue work-individual and between individuals, since this is a project in which one can interact in groups. Through interaction, we can reach new dimensions of sound. Another goal is to help break the myth that technological means may be inaccessible or difficult to understand, and be an instrument of approach making use of an interface known as the glass harps.
From the movement of hands over the glasses, it is possible to define new sound patterns. Stimulating the senses, new creative possibilities emerge through the individual experience of each viewer. In that game generated by the representation of something so old, we propose a reinterpretation and homage to Franklin and his harmonica.
Biography:
Lumen is a collective accomplishing projects in new media and electronic arts, based in Madrid (Spain). Thanks to a background that includes visual arts and audiovisual programming, Lumen has the experience necessary for the development of interactive art projects. Its members had their work exhibited at festivals promoted by institutions like Goethe-institute, Medialab-Prado, Patadero Madrid and Ker Thiossane.