Da Vinci's String Organ

#1

Post by dylandrop » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 2:53 AM UTC

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#2

Post by Udo » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 3:51 AM UTC

This is very, very cool - one can only imagine Da Vinci's delight had he known this thing would actually be built and played all this time later!

Sadly, the demo video is incredibly useless. Not only is it an obnoxiously cut-together collage of song fragments, it also never shows how the organ actually works. They do show off the room it's standing in, the pianist, and the audience in detail, but not the instrument nor do they do an acceptable job at providing a good listening experience. One can only assume this is by design, since the article is pretty vague on the inner workings of the organ as well.

Still, the project itself is very neat. I'm looking forward to hearing more from the viola organista.

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#3

Post by cheesycheese » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 3:54 AM UTC

The work of Zubrzycki is impressive. For having studied acoustics quite a bit, I'm very impressed by the fact that the sound manages to have both a very short attack an a very good sustain (thanks to the wheel). Controlling the vibration of a bowed string must have been extremely difficult... For the interested reader, there's a more detailed article here: http://tygodnik.onet.pl/zmysly/the-da-vinci-tone-in-english/...

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#4

Post by JasonFruit » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 3:56 AM UTC

I hate to be that guy, but Leonardo didn't really innovate here: the hurdy-gurdy had existed for a long time by the time he sketched out this instrument, and it had rosined wheels turning against strings, the different pitches being selected by a crude keyboard of buttons. Sure, this is more refined, but all the important elements were present in an existing instrument.

Still, though, it makes a pleasant, musically useful sound. I wonder how hard it is to keep in adjustment; it seems like it would be touchy (just like the hurdy-gurdy).

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#5

Post by a_olt » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 3:57 AM UTC

Da Vinci was certainly the hacker :)

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#6

Post by alxndr » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 4:00 AM UTC

Here's someone from Japan who's been making Geigenwerk and Streichklavier for the last twenty years. Neat videos.

http://obuchi.music.coocan.jp/Geigenwerk/index-e.htm

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#7

Post by gry » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 4:09 AM UTC

JasonFruit wrote: post #4

I hate to be that guy, but Leonardo didn't really innovate here: the hurdy-gurdy had existed for a long time by the time he sketched out this instrument, and it had rosined wheels turning against strings, the different pitches being selected by a crude keyboard of buttons. Sure, this is more refined, but all the important elements were present in an existing instrument. Still, though, it makes a pleasant, musically u…

First off, I didn't know the hurdy-gurdy was an instrument, nor did I know it preceded this. Guess I really didn't pay attention to Donovan's lyrics…

I'm even more curious now. I want to know why this couldn't or wouldn't have been built before.

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#8

Post by JasonFruit » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 4:14 AM UTC

gry wrote: post #7

JasonFruit wrote: post #4

I hate to be that guy, but Leonardo didn't really innovate here: the hurdy-gurdy had existed for a long time by the time he sketched out this instrument, and it had rosined wheels turning against strings, the different pitches being selected by a crude keyboard of buttons. Sure, this is more refined, but all the important elements were present in an existing instrument. Still, though, it makes a pleasant, musically u…

First off, I didn't know the hurdy-gurdy was an instrument, nor did I know it preceded this. Guess I really didn't pay attention to Donovan's lyrics… I'm even more curious now. I want to know why this couldn't or wouldn't have been built before.

Similar things were built. If you read German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geigenwerk.

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#9

Post by Sommer » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 4:21 AM UTC

Much better article, interview, and video here (watch the bottom one with CC on): http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/11/viola-organista/

Re: Da Vinci's String Organ

#10

Post by gry » Thu, Dec 26, 2013, 4:50 AM UTC

JasonFruit wrote: post #8

gry wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First off, I didn't know the hurdy-gurdy was an instrument, nor did I know it preceded this. Guess I really didn't pay attention to Donovan's lyrics… I'm even more curious now. I want to know why this couldn't or wouldn't have been built before.

Similar things were built. If you read German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geigenwerk .

I don't. The English version [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geigenwerk] suggests the a hurdy-gurdy wheel is in constant contact with strings, while the viola organista allows for a large number of strings to lower on to the wheel, so individual notes strings and notes are played.

This seems like he moved technology forward, no?