IF I HAD A HAMMER: DESIGN AND THEORY OF AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-PREPARED PIANO
Edgar J. Berdahl, Steven Backer, Julius O. Smith · 2005
In an attempt to create alternative methods of both play-ing and studying vibrating strings, we have modeled and constructed a software-driven instrument for use in the electromagnetic excitation of an acoustic grand piano’s strings. Both a virtual and material version of such a sys-tem are discussed, along with some of the theory of opera-tion. Applications to musical composition and expression, piano string characteristic identification, arbitrarily long sustained tones, and digital waveguide model calibration are presented, along with ideas for future experimentation and creation of new music and sound. 1.