Disklavier

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A Yamaha disklavier

Disklavier is the brand name for a group of reproduction pianos made by the Yamaha Corporation . They were introduced in the USA in 1987 .

General

The different forms of the disklavier are acoustic pianos and grand pianos. Equipped with electromagnets , keystrokes can be executed independently and pedals can be operated, while optical sensors connected to LEDs detect the player's key and pedal movements. Based on conventional instruments, these additional built-in components were developed in such a way that the sensors and electromechanical elements do not disturb or otherwise impair the player of the instrument. In addition, additional electronics are able to save data, including the performance data of the respective pianist, which can then be reproduced - without the pianist - so that the instrument plays by itself, as if by magic. Attack subtleties such as dynamics and duration as well as the agogic of the interpretation of the playing pianist are retained. Disklaviere can process MIDI data from various storage devices, such as floppy disks, CD-ROMs and USB sticks. This means that they are also used in serial music as well as in computer music compositions .

Disklaviers are manufactured in the form of pianos , baby grand pianos and large concert grand pianos , right up to a product called “Disklavier Pro”. The "Disklavier Pro" is able to reproduce key and pedal movements with greater precision than the standard Disklavier. It is the official instrument of the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition, which took place for the 11th time in 2018. Until 2011, the performances of this competition can be downloaded as MIDI files.

Mark II, Mark IIXG, Mark III

Further developments include options for recording and playing back standard MIDI files using floppy disks, a built-in synthesizer (the XG Tonebank), adding audio tracks (in combination with MIDI) via CD-ROM (for playback), and the SmartKey system for learning for beginners, karaoke functions and various multi-tracking recording functions. With the Disklavier III, Yamaha finally also presented the ability to play sampled sounds through headphones or other audio outputs, ie a "silent game" without using the hammers and strings.

Per

In 1999 the "Disklavier Pro" was introduced, the "II Pro". A key feature of this version is the greater accuracy in playback. The Pro uses a proprietary extension of MIDI data that records timing information with even greater precision. Instead of the MIDI standard of 127 steps, Yamaha uses a subdivision from 0-1023 for key after touch, note on and note off. A similar principle is used for the pedal data, in which a division into 256 steps means that half and quarter pedals can also be recorded and displayed. As a result, the reproduction is so accurate that it can practically no longer be distinguished from that of a piano or concert grand piano played live.

Compositions for Disklavier

The Disklavier can be used as a reproduction piano for recording conventional piano pieces. But there are also some original compositions that were created especially for the Disklavier and, due to their complexity, can only be played live to a limited extent or not at all. Playing by the pianist and electromechanical playback can also be combined and presented live in performances:

  • Clarence Barlow : or a cherish'd bard ... (1998); Les Ciseaux de Tom Johnson (1998); Kurti Suti Bekar (1998); 3: 4: 5 (2004)
  • Tristram Cary , Sevens Concertino for Yamaha Disklavier and Strings (1991)
  • Carson Cooman (* 1982), Revolutionary Earthworks: Music for Mechanical Piano for Disklavier (2009)
  • Oscar van Dillen , Memos for a New Millennium for Disklavier with Player (2002)
  • Karlheinz Essl , (1992–2010) Lexicon Sonata - interactive real-time composition for computer-controlled piano
  • JB Floyd , several pieces for or with Disklavier
  • Kyle Gann , Nude Rolling Down an Escalator: Studies for Disklavier and others
  • Gordon Green, Serpentine Sky
  • Libero Mureddu , Deployment pour la mort de György Ligeti (2006)
  • Olga Neuwirth , Kloing! , for disklavier, live pianist and visual jockey (2008)
  • John Rea , J'ignore si j'étais un homme rêvant alors que j'étais un papillon, ou si je suis à présent un papillon rêvant que je suis un homme for 27 players and Disklavier (2001)
  • Benedikt Schiefer : Gesture (2009) (...) algorithmic composing media installation for Disklavier piano; Three Interludes for Disklavier piano (2009)
  • Conrad Schnitzler , numerous pieces for Disklavier
  • Carl Stone : Sa Rit Gol for Disklavier, 1997
  • Aphex Twin : Drukqs , 2001

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.piano-e-competition.com/ Website of the piano-e-competition of the School Of Music / University Of Minnesota
  2. ↑ Event information for zkm 2014 , accessed on February 17, 2016
  3. ^ Karlheinz Essl: Lexicon Sonata
  4. ↑ List of works by Kyel Gann , accessed on February 16, 2016
  5. ↑ Realization on YouTube

Web links