Example 1.
Wintergartan Marble Machine
What is the work about?
This video is a demonstration of the “marble Machine” created by Swedish experimental pop musician Martin Molin. In the video Molin Operates a large music machine made from wood, steel, plastic and rubber.
The video shows in great detail the mechanics and intricate inner workings of the machine, accompanied by a pleasing and melodic tune that is being produced by the machines operation.
What aspects of the work do you find interesting?
Aside from the enjoyable music being produced by the machine, I take a lot of enjoyment from the machine itself and fact that you get to closely examine the machine and the way that it works.
Building such a machine would have taken a great amount of engineering skill and know how, the video and the way it was shot, lets you fully appreciate the work that has been put into it and for me enhances my enjoyment of the clip immensely.
I have a lot of interest in machines and contraptions and have often found enjoyment in the specific and unique sounds that some machines can produce, Whether it is a machine designed specifically to produce music such as the one in the video or the sounds produced by a steam engine train locomotive.
What aspects of the work are you interested in learning about for yourself?
Aspects that I would like to know more about would be the tones and different sounds that can be achieved by manipulating certain materials and objects, for instance the range of tone and pitch from different lengths of steel or plastic pipe
“I am still totally fascinated by complex systems and constructions. And cogs. I love cogs!” – Martin Molin
References:
http://blogs.studyinsweden.se/2017/05/16/martin_molin_marble_machine/
http://www.wintergatan.net/#/news
Example 2.
Waterphone
What is the work about?
The “Richard Waters” Water phone is a type of inharmonic Percussion instrument made from a combination of steel bowls and brass rods.
The waterphone uses resonation and percussion to produce a very eerie and spooky sound often used in horror films to create ambient noise and mood.
The video displays the different methods and tools that can be used with the water phone to produce a number of different sounds.
What aspects of the work do you find interesting?
What interests me about the waterphone is the range of sounds and tones that can be created by something that seems so simple. The waterphone is technically an instrument so that implies that each person performing with it could bring something unique and different.
I Personally am very interested in developing different pieces of equipment and tools that can be used in similar ways to create different sounds over a wider range, so I often use this video an inspiration.
What aspects of the work are you interested in learning about for yourself?
I would like to learn more and understand the nature of resonance and how we can further produce a greater range of sounds manipulating materials in such a simple manner.
“A cascading crystal waterfall of light amidst the songs of a whale.” – Tom Waits
References:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161009124815/http://www.waterphone.com/story.php
http://coolmusicinstrument.com/richard-waters-and-eerie-sound-waterphone
https://www.waterphone.com/quotes.php
Example 3.
The Magic of Making Sound
What is the work about?
“the magic of making sound” is a short but informative documentary about Foley art. During the video many things about the nature of Foley art are discussed and demonstrated by Alyson Moore, Chris Moriana and mixer Mary Jo Lang, a team of foley artists from Warner Brothers studios. Several techniques and methods are also demonstrated using a variety of tools and props throughout the video.
What aspects of the work do you find interesting?
Every aspect of the documentary interests and intrigues me as working in sound design for movies television and games is the end goal for my studies.
One of the most interesting aspects is finding out that a lot of sounds for specific objects or actions can be recreated by manipulating totally unrelated objects or substances, for example the sound of footsteps on crunchy snow being recreated by manipulating a bag of cornflour.
I really enjoy the fact that foley is performed and not just produced. The idea that the artists need to perform different actions and interact with specific props and tools in co-ordination with the film track gives them an opportunity to use their own expression and emotion and also means that they themselves are an important part of any project that they are involved with.
What aspects of the work are you interested in learning about for yourself?
I am interested in learning everything I possibly can about Foley art and the different techniques and tools that Foley artists use to create the different sounds that they need to make films and television.
“People take sound for granted, but you would miss it if it wasnt there” – Alyson Moore.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCajXeitgFL-rb5-gXI-aG8Q
Isaac Gresswell 1011634 