VIDEO: Aural-Shape-Orchester
& improvisation orchestra from the Folkwang Academy of Music (2011)
A musically connection from improvised music and composed sequences with
the machine instruments of Christof Schläger. The primary connection is the
natural sound of classical instruments and the pure acoustic sound of the
mechanical machine instruments. It is a meeting between composed moments
from the machines and intuitive, fresh responses from the musicians.
Begegnungen-concerts with...
- 2011 'First Contact', project with Improvisation orchestra from the Folkwang Academy of Music
- 2004 'Audiosphere', project with Thomas Köner
- 2003 'Exploitation des Conceptes', project with Luc Ferrari
- 2001 'Automatons', project with LOGOS
Hammerwerk consists of four air drums woth eight pneumatically powered hammers for
which the stretched membranes of kevlar -a synthetic fiber of high tensile
strength- over a circular mounting with an internal diameter of 1.50 meters.
Attached to each drum are sixteen hammers each of which are fitted with a
pneumatically operated rotational joint the heads of which covered with
various materials, strike the membrane. The flaming orange color of the
membranes with their small insectile hammer arms gives Hammerwork,
especially when in movement, the appearance of a delicate, organic being.
Material: steel sheets, pneumatic swivel drives, valve islands, control Weight: 55 kg Dimensions: height 220cm [=7.2 ft] x width 150cm [=4.9 ft]
Specially built nozzles enhance the blow
noises of the air stream, the tone appears rough. Drainpipe tubing is mounted to sixteen valves,
the controllable air stream generates strong sounds.
Material: steel, pipes, 8 gas valves, 300 mBar blower Weight: 145 kg Dimensions: height 200cm [=6.6 ft] x length 200cm [=6.6 ft] x width 350cm [=11.5 ft]
Each Brane consists of a membrane,
which is vibrated bij an air stream movingover a circular mounting. Brane's acoustic
color and pitch level is determined by the sounds occurring at the end of a tube.
Schläger bundled sixteen Branes and mounted them - similar to Kulong and Typedrum -
on a ring at a height of 3.40 meters.
Material: steel profiles, rubber membranes, valve block Weight: 120 kg Dimensions: length 460cm [15.1 ft] x height 340cm [=11.2 ft]
32 Typewriter magnets strike custom-made
oval metal cylinders. There are two versions: One tuned B gate consisted of a Typedrum
to F#, one tuned G to D.
Material: 32 magnets, steel Weight: 50 kg Dimensions: height 300cm [=9.8 ft] x length 380cm [=12.5 ft] x width 80cm [=2.6 ft]
The clattering backdrop of electric daisy
wheel typewriters has become an acoustic museum’s rarity. This particular sound environment
was revived here. For Typedrum small level arms strike membranes of print foil mounted on
round tires.
Material: 16 magnets, metal, foil Weight: 40 kg Dimensions: height 300cm [=9.8 ft] x length 380cm [=12.5 ft] x width 80cm [=2.6 ft]
Motors are mounted on perforated
synthetic foil stretched over eight three-meter-plus high poles. When the motors are
activated they cause the foil to rapidly rotate which generates a robust, clamorous sound.
The eight poles stand on a carrier and the foil, which is red, makes them appear like
long-stemmed plants in a vase.
Material: steel rods, 8 motors, foils Weight: 20 kg Dimensions: length 160cm [5.2 ft] x height 330cm [=10.8 ft]
The mechanical principle: Magnetic generators
let V2-A metal sheets resonate. Chromix exists in four executions. Sound is produced by means
of magnets that stimulate the steel sheets’ intrinsic resonances. The metallic sound produced
varies between made by a transformer and that made by a thunder sheet.
Material: 32 magnets, stainless steel-chrome sheets, metal Weight: 60 kg Dimensions: length 760cm [=24.6 ft] x height 330cm [=10.8 ft]
Schwirrer, built in 2000, is based on a
principle similar to that of an organ or flute in which a column of air is caused to vibrate
when air is forced into a tube. The parallel fluting within the tube generates standing waves of
air similar to the aquatic action in a small brook where extending from the banks crosswise
overlapping waves are formed on the surface of the water.
Material: steel, cable conduits and pipe bends, 8 sewing machine motors Weight: each instrument 80 kg Dimensions: height 350cm [=11.5 ft] x length 700cm [=23.0 ft]
72 telephone bells have been mounted on a
slightly concave carrier of 3.10 meters in height and are struck by magnets. In addition to
these standard telephone bells, the artist also uses prepared bells in the form of flat metal
discs, which produce a rattling sound.
Material: steel profiles, 576 bells Weight: each object 15 kg Dimensions: height 310cm [=10.2 ft] x length 45cm [=1.5 ft]
A steel pyramid serves as the platform for Federine.
Its construction was inspired by the droning and groaning noises of the springs of a garage door.
Vibration of similar springs is activated by seven drills set in motion by motors. Schläger furthermore
mounted poles and wires to the pyramid which are struck by 25 magnets from spinning machines.
Material: 25 magnets from spinning machines, 7 motors, steel, garage door springs Weight: 110 kg Dimensions: height 257cm [=8.4 ft] x width 130cm [=4.2 ft]
Connected by a cable electromagnetic signal
generators are mounted at intervals of 0.5 meters. Close-circuited, they generate a cracking
sound. The 32 meter long cable of the Crackboxes chain can be arranged in various ways. Schläger
places the chain either inconspicuously in the room or he constructs with them objects on carriers.
Material: transducer, signal source, cable Weight: 15 kg Dimensions: length 3200cm [=105 ft]
Hammerwerk consists of four air drums woth
eight pneumatically powered hammers for which the stretched membranes of kevlar -a synthetic
fiber of high tensile strength- over a circular mounting with an internal diameter of 1.5 meter.
Attached to each drum are sixteen hammers each of which are fitted with a pneumatically operated
rotational joint the heads of which covered with various materials, strike the membrane.
Material: steel sheets, pneumatic swivel drives, valve islands, control Weight: 55 kg Dimensions: height 220cm [=7.2 ft] x weight 150cm [=4.9 ft]
Air passing through rapidly rotating
perforated discs produces a characteristic siren sound. The siren consists of eight discs,
which can be triggered by eight throttle flaps and 16 motors. Wind machine blowing air
into the valve box. The valves distribute the air to the eight hoses.
Elliptically cut metal cones colliding
in pairs, including small amounts of air in the process. Seven pulling magnets from a
former pneumatic dispatch that have received a new function.
Material: 7 pulling magnets, steel Weight: 36 kg Dimensions: height 240cm [=94.5 in.] x width 80cm [=31.5 in.]
The first sound machine was constructed
over thirty years ago. It consisted of three elements: The sound sculptures named Klangmuschel
(Sound Shell), Gewittersäule (Thunderstorm Column), and Sirene. All have mechanical sounders
and can be activated directly by switches and regulators. The Sound Shell has a rotating
disc with a scratcher, a rotating ring consisting of springs, a hammer, sounders, magnet horn,
and drilling motor. The Thunderstorm Column has rotating chains on two garage gate springs,
a metal rod carousel, a buzzer, and a beater. Sirene consists of a wind machine and three
perforated disc motors.
