Tuesday, February 03, 2009
21st Century Music
Last week, our friends Warren and Tuli invited us to see a solo artist playing an instrument we'd never heard of before -- the Warr guitar. The Warr guitar, which first came on the market in 1991, is an electronic instrument that resembles an electronic guitar (or possibly a sitar). It has twelve strings and a 5 1/2 octave range -- 6 melody strings tuned in 4ths, and 6 bass strings tuned in 5ths. The performer is not required to to pick, strum or bow its strings, but instead touches the strings against the frets with his/her fingertips, causing string vibration that is sensed by electomagnetic pick-ups, and then can be programmed for virtually any sound the performer desires: piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, wind, rivers, rain, etc. The technique is similar to that of a pianist, but instead of strings being struck by a hammer, the strings are pressed against the frets, creating notes with the same piano-like nuances: glissando, legato, sustain, staccato, and a volume range from pianissimo through fortissimo.
Being free to use all the fingertips and thumbs of both left and right hands, the artist is able to play bass, chords and melody at the same time, eliminating the need for other musicians or prerecorded back-up tracks (recorded or sequenced). The result is unique in that it allows a soloist in a live scenario to produce sounds equivalent to those made by several musicians together.
In short, it's an amazing thing to behold. Michael Mirven, whose performance we attended, played one astonishing piece after another, ranging from ethereal new age stuff and lush romantic orchestral-sounding pieces to African-tinged World music and rip-your-ears-off rock 'n roll.
If you ever have a chance to experience this unique and amazing new instrument, jump on it. In the meantime, here's a little taste of Warr guitar work... for your listening pleasure.
Being free to use all the fingertips and thumbs of both left and right hands, the artist is able to play bass, chords and melody at the same time, eliminating the need for other musicians or prerecorded back-up tracks (recorded or sequenced). The result is unique in that it allows a soloist in a live scenario to produce sounds equivalent to those made by several musicians together.
In short, it's an amazing thing to behold. Michael Mirven, whose performance we attended, played one astonishing piece after another, ranging from ethereal new age stuff and lush romantic orchestral-sounding pieces to African-tinged World music and rip-your-ears-off rock 'n roll.
If you ever have a chance to experience this unique and amazing new instrument, jump on it. In the meantime, here's a little taste of Warr guitar work... for your listening pleasure.
# posted by goots @ 1:34 PM 
