Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

Scroll to top

Top

Quantum Quantz

Quantum Quantz

Quantum Quantz is a musical design project that merges space, instrument and score in a unified whole. The work merges innovative technologies with acoustic theory to realise a novel approach to centuries old musical practice.

Performance spaces have naturally evolved over time, sometimes outpacing the repertoire developed to be played within them; Small-pipes instrument design development has remained virtually the same since the 1850s, yet international concert pitch and amplification technologies have continued to develop unabated throughout the 20th century.

Small-pipes musicians used to playing in intimate venues find themselves playing in unsympathetic venues more often. Instruments and repertoire are not often optimised for contemporary spaces and such environments can detrimentally affect the impact of the performance.

This project uses developments in manufacturing methods and composition to situate the work in a contemporary acoustic environment without the compromise.

By use of innovative fabrication, the project generates more acoustically flexible instruments without sacrificing the historic sound.

New computational methods can refresh traditional repertoires by generating new scores that respect the sound and modality of historical music. Quantum Quantz looks at how new technology can respectfully augment and evolve traditional instrumental performance and craft in a modern condition.

The shape of instrument bores might not be a straight cone due to the acoustic character. Many instruments have been around for more than 200 years, internal shapes might get distorted or warped. Visualising the internal shape is very critical to reconstructing historical instruments.

Instrument making technology is nearly stopped from the 1850s. International concert pitch and amplifier technology came around in the 20th century. New manufacturing methods and CAD can allow more ergonomic and flexible instruments without sacrificing the historic sound.

We can measure, collect and analyse the acoustic character of a particular space by capturing the impulse response.

3D printing techniques are chosen to reduce unintended variables. Notably, it is comparatively small and multiple iterations involved with minimum waste of materials and time.

References

  1. Armitage, D, 2016. The Beaulieu Trophies – Hidden in Plain Sight The Galpin Society Newsletter 45, pp.6-9
  2. Balosso-Bardin, C., Ernoult, A., De La Cuadra, P., Fabre, B. and Franciosi, I., 2018. The Secret of the Bagpipes: Controlling the Bag. Techniques, Skill and Musicality. The Galpin Society Journal, vol. 71,
  3. Baines, A. and Boult, A., 1967. Woodwind instruments and their history. Faber & Faber Limited.
  4. Bigio, R., 2005. Rudall, Rose and Carte: the development of the flute in London, 1821-1939,  Goldsmiths, University of London 
  5. Cannon, R.D., 2004. Out of the Flames: Studies on the William Dixon Bagpipe Music Manuscripts Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society
  6. Cheape, H., The bagpipe: perceptions of a national instrument 2008 University of Edinburgh
  7. Cottrell, S. and Howell, J., 2019. Reproducing musical instrument components from manufacturers’ technical drawings using 3D printing: Boosey & Hawkes as a case study. Journal of New Music Research, 48(5), pp.449-457.
  8. Ford, E., 2019. New additions to a collection and tradition, Piping Today Issue 95, pp. 40-44
  9. Karp, C., 1978. Woodwind instrument bore measurement. The Galpin Society Journal, pp.9-28.
  10. Macpherson, E., 1998, The Pitch and Scale of the Great Highland Bagpipe, New Zealand Pipeband, Winter 1998 issue
  11. Mersenne, M., 1636. Harmonie universelle: contenant la théorie et la pratique de la musique (Vol. 2). Editions du centre national de la recherche scientifique 
  12. Myers, A., 2013, Catalogue of the Edinburgh University: Volume 2 part G: Bagpipes Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, The University of Edinburgh
  13. Paquier, M., Hendrickx, E. and Jeannin, R., 2016. Effect of wood on the sound of oboe as simulated by the chanter of a 16-inch French bagpipe. Applied Acoustics, 103, pp.47-53.
  14. Pitt Rivers Museum, 2019, Plastic Fantastic? Replicating Historic Musical Instruments, Oxford University, viewed14/06/2020 <https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/plastic-fantastic>
  15. Praetorius, M.1618. Syntagma musicum … in quatuor tomos distributum. Wittebergæ : E typographeo Johannis Richteri. PLATE IX
  16. Ricchiardi, G., Staropoli, M., Xiccato F., 2018. 3D printed replicas of historical woodwinds, The Galpin Society Newsletter May 2018, pp. 5-7
  17. Savan, J. and Simian R. 2014. CAD modelling and 3D printing for musical instrument research: the Renaissance cornett as a case study, Early Music November 2014, pp. 537-544
  18. Talbot, J. c1696. [Manuscript] Held at Oxford: Christ Church Music MS 1187 pp.535
  19. Tytler, J., 1778. Encyclopaedia Britannica the second edition. Vol. 2 pp.258-259
  20. Wood, F., Brock, F. and Uden, J., 2018. An investigation of a Baroque musette bourdon using micro-computed tomography. Galpin Society Journal, 71