Visitors to STEIM's Electronicmusicalinstrumentsexhibition are invited to play with prototypes of instruments designed by STEIM especially for live electronic music performance.
Instead of the computer keyboard or the traditional 'piano' keyboard the visitors can grab, squeeze, pull, wave, stretch, bow, blow, push, tilt, scratch, tear and caress specially designed objects to manipulate sound live!
The history of electronic music instruments has long been influenced by laboratories and studios. STEIM is one of the first and few centers where a wider and more practice-based design philosophy has been developed. STEIM's instruments are designed for intuitive touch-based playing by anyone who wants to manipulate sound. You do not have to understand the underlying technology, you play-by-ear in the widest possible sense.
As electronics have become smaller and cheaper, musicians and artists can make use of the various toolbox-systems developed by STEIM to build their own musical and performance instruments. No instrument is too crazy or too personal to make. We no longer have to please the dull, safe taste of a mass audience, so the new instruments give free rein to the imagination. Importantly, this is as true for those who design them as for those who play them.
STEIM's Electronicmusicalinstrumentsexhibition consists of the Crackleboxes, the Finger Web, the HeadBanger, various sound Shakers, the Sound Portraits, the Sonic Air Bow - just to name a few.
The Electronicmusicalinstrumentsexhibition is a travelling exhibition, so it can unfortunately not be seen regularly at the STEIM premisses. If you're interested in hosting the exhibition you can contact knock [at] steim [dot] nl.
More info about STEIM's Electro Squeek Club, the predecessor of the Electronicmusicalinstrumentsexhibition can be found here.
