Tubophone
| Tubophone | |
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| engl .: tubophon | |
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| Tubophone | |
| classification |
Membranophone percussion instrument |
| Musician | |
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Peter Sadlo , Heikomusic, Doubledrums, Ronny Kot Wenzell Category: Drummer |
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Tubophon (from Latin tubus, "tube" and Greek phon , "voice", "sound") is a percussion instrument designed in 2010 as a sound installation by Stefan Schubert and Peter Sadlo .
development
In 2004, the engineer Stefan Schubert accidentally discovered the sound properties of district heating steel pipes sealed with a plastic cap . The deep, muffled tone inspired Schubert to build a percussion instrument with different tube lengths and thicknesses. Together with Peter Sadlo, a prototype was built for the musical highlight of the inauguration of the geothermal project in Pullach. The device called the "geothermal phone" at the time was dismantled again and further development was discontinued for cost reasons.
In 2010, over 160 m of pipe material were welded using a heavy-duty lifting device in six weeks according to a new transportable construction concept. Here, too, Peter Sadlo was active in an advisory capacity with suggestions and ideas on playability and range, both of which were more experimental than mathematical.
On June 25, 2010, on the occasion of the inauguration of the geothermal energy center in Unterföhring , the Tubophon was played for the first time by Peter Sadlo and Doubledrums.
2011 was the German Patent and Trademark Office of the utility model registered.
construction
The Tubophon consists largely of steel pipes with plastic sheathing and thermal insulation, such as those used for district heating networks. A total of 19 different tones are generated from a 125 m pipe. The tubes are closed on the playing surface with a plastic cap as eardrum, the other sides of the tubes are open. The design, developed by the graphic artist Michael Wladarsch from 84 GHz , is reminiscent of a flattened organ due to the bevels and angles, the silver, partially elliptically cut end pieces of the large "sidepipes" of large-volume exhaust pipes. The painting of the silver tubes with black coating is reflected in the lettering of the Tubophon. The final locksmith work for the sub and bracing frames resulted in the division into four modules with an individual weight between 1 and 2 tons per module. The Tubophone is transported by a mobile crane per module on a truck.
Playing technique
The tubophone is played, like other percussion instruments, with sticks or mallets by striking the eardrums (plastic caps). The pipes themselves do not vibrate, but the resulting air pressure creates the sound. With small, short tubes, pop-like, high-pitched tones up to garnet-like blows result when struck. With the large, long tubes, depending on the striking technique, several base tones with several overtones are sometimes produced. The tones cannot be adjusted in the current construction. The independent dynamics and physical presence of the tones cannot or can hardly be recorded or reproduced on sound carriers .