Fauxharmonic Orchestra » Podcasts

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Wii Test

Paul Henry Smith — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:18:36 +0000

This short video shows my first test using the Nintendo Wii controller, or “Wii-mote,” to affect the playback of a short passage. The motion and position of the controller tells the computer to select from among pre-recorded samples of musicians playing loud or soft.

The results are promising, but I can easily see that this approach will have limitations as the music gets more complex. For example, when first violins need to be emphasized and then second violins immediately following them, how will the controller “know” which instrument group to modify? We’ll probably have to pair multiple controllers (perhaps Wii-motes) with multiple musicians and computers.

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Allegretto (complete)

Paul Henry Smith — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:28:58 +0000

This episode presents the complete performance of the second movement, Allegretto, of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Op. 92. Performed by the Fauxharmonic Orchestra.

(Optimized for iPod playback: The dynamic range has been reduced.)

Building Beethoven’s 7th - Hidden Clarinet?

Paul Henry Smith — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:22:08 +0000

A “hidden” melody in the middle of the second movement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony is uncovered and performed by the Fauxharmonic Orchestra. The melody has actually only been “hidden” in plain sight, for it is clearly written in the score.