Category Archives: Musical Instruments

Posts about musical instruments, may be hard- or even software

The joy of Kronos

Korg Kronos X 88

Korg Kronos X 88

After excessively testing the Kronos, I’m completely overwhelmed. I didn’t expect it being that great. Though the grand and electric piano, the organ and string modelling engines already provide a more than pleasing playground, I’m especially impressed by the AL-1 analog modeling and MOD-7 FM engines.

Reliability

Despite the complexity the device runs relatively stable. Some weird behaviour, requiring a reboot, may happen after hours of programming work, which IMO is not a major issue. I got the device to crash, though, when importing and playing some organ soundfonts like Jeux 1.4 from hammersound.com.

Fan noise

The fan was very noisy and audible from a distance of at least 15 feet. Obviously its vibrations have been amplified by the base panel made of hard masonite. My dealer first tried to decouple it from the chassis using some foam, but to no avail. He finally replaced it by a model with similar specs. It’s still audible, but I barely notice it when sitting in front and programming the machine. I’m very grateful for the great work they did.

Kronos Original Fan (RDM6025S)

Kronos Original Fan (RDM6025S)

Stand

I replaced my DIY-welted stand by the K&M 18810, which is rather solid and provides enough room for the legs and pedals. IMO its assembly classifies it as a stand for stationary use, not being made for stage nomads.

Foot controllers

I’m using a Roland DP-10 sustain pedal and an additional Yamaha FC 5 connected to the Kronos’ assignable switch input.

Roland DP-10 with rubber plate

Roland DP-10 with rubber plate

I’m still after a pedal block compatible with the Kronos with two (or three) integrated (half-damper) switches similar to the ones of Roland and Nord shown below. If possible, an integrated swell respectively expression pedal would be great. In case someone can share some pointer, I’d be interested.

Roland Pedalblock

Roland Pedalblock

Nord Pedalblock with plate

Nord Pedalblock with plate

The factory CX-3 organ presets use the joystick to switch the rotary speaker’s speed. In case you want to optionally use the footswitch, assign one of the AMS mixers to the speed parameter, and provide both the joystick’s Y-axis and the footswitch to this mixer’s inputs.

Conclusion

The Kronos, son of the OASYS and kind of grand son of the Z1, IMO is an unrivaled digital piano, organ, and synthesizer. I already spent hours playing the outstanding grand piano emulations and programming the AL-1 and MOD-7 engines.

Vespers 2012 are past

»Les vesperales de l’orgue Dubois en Wissembourg« are now past. Today Christoph Keggenhoff used the occassion of the last concert of this series to demonstrate the different shades of the instrument’s timbres. I enjoyed every single minute, as I did the 19 concerts before. Thanks to all who helped to make this happen.

Next sunday at 3PM a final concert with about 150 musicians playing the »Requiem in C-Moll« by Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) will take place. Free entry is granted. Donations for the new organ of the protestant church St. Jean are welcome.

Les vesperales de l’orgue Dubois en Wissembourg

After its inauguration, the Dubois organ is used for a series of vespers during this summer, happening each sunday afternoon from 5 PM to 5:50 PM. Though the inauguration just happened one week ago, Daniel Maurer yesterday was in desperate need of tuning the lingual pipes of the backside positiv 15 minutes before the concert. He played the following pieces:

  • J.S. Bach
    • Choral »Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist« (BWV 667)
  • F. Couperin
    • Récit de Cornet
    • Cromorne sur la taille
  • J.S. Bach
    • Fantaisie en sol majeur (Très vitement, Gravement, Lentement) (BWV 572)
    • Choral »Meine Seele erhebet den Herrn« (BWV 243)
  • F. Couperin
    • Offertoire sur les grands jeux
    • Récit de Tierce en Taille
  • G.F. Haendel, Suite N°1 for a musical clock
    • A voluntary or a flight of angels (HWV 600)
    • Menuet (HWV 603)
    • Gigue (HWV 589)

Today Pascal Reber played the following:

  • Claude Gervaise, Danceries de la Renaissance
    • Pavane
    • Gaillarde
    • Branle de Champagne
    • Branle de Bourgogne
  • J.S. Bach
    • Choral »Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend« (BWV 655)
    • Choral »Komm heiliger Geist, Herre Gott« (BWV 652)
  • Louis Nicolas Clérambault
    • Plein Jeu
    • Duo
    • Trio
    • Basse de cromorne
    • Flûtes
    • Récit de nazard
    • Caprice sur les Grands Jeux
  • Pacal Reber
    • Improvisation I
    • Improvisation II

I especially enjoyed the first block of ancient renaissance pieces. During the second improvisation, he played rather unconventional stuff, showing that the instrument is not only capable of reproducing classical music.

Two excellent concerts which I really enjoyed.

Inauguration of the Dubois organ of Wissembourg

The inauguration of »L’Orgue Dubois de l’abbatiale Sts. Pierre et Paul en Wissembourg« is over. There was an excellent presentation of the timbres of the instrument followed by a concert with pieces of Nicolas de Grigny (Veni Creator), Johann Sebastian Bach (Deux chorals de Leipzig), Georg Böhm (Partita sur le choral »Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten«) et Pierre Dumage (Suite du 1er Ton). Screens have been used so that the attendees could directly see what is happening at the organ’s console.

Once again I was completely overwhelmed by the sound of the instrument. And once again I noticed that the sound of famous instruments gains its living and breathing from little imperfections. Individual pipes have an individual chiff, some pipes rattle a bit when being played (especially lingual pipes), others are not tuned perfectly.

The presentation will be available as a recording in CD respectively DVD formats. The visitors got a nice printed handout (available both in french and german language) which provides valuable information of the history and restoration of the instrument.

From 2012-05-27 through 2012-09-30 each sunday free concerts will be provided between 5:00PM and 5:45PM. Obviously I’ll revive a hobby of mine and choose Wissembourg as the favorite destination of my sunday biking trips :) .

The Pipe Organ of St. Konrad, Aschaffenburg-Strietwald, Germany

On saturday I had the occasion (but not the time) to play the instrument depicted above. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of its console with traditional stops on either side, as I was in a hurry.

It’s quite an interesting instrument, built in 2007 by Freiburger Orgelbau. The disposition of the stops qualifies the instrument for authentic playing of both baroque and romantic organ music:

I. Main (C–g3)

1. Bordon 16’
2. Prinzipal 8’
3. Gedeckt 8’
4. Flute harmonique 8’
5. Viola da Gamba 8’
6. Octave 4’
7. Gemshorn 4’
8. Superoctave 2′
9. Mixtur 4-5fach 1 1/’3’
10. Trompete 8’

Tremulant

II. Swell (C–g3)
11. Geigenprizipal 8′
12. Rohrgedeckt 8’
13. Salicional 8’
14. Vox coelestis 8’
15. Octav 4’
16. Traversflöte 4’
17. Nasard 2 2/’3’
18. Octavin 2’
19. Terz 1 3/’5’
20. Piccolo 1’
21. Trompette harmonique 8’
22. Hautbois 8’

Tremulant

Pedal (C–f1)
23. Prinzipalbass 16′
24. Subbass 16’
25. Octavbass 8’
26. Gedacktbass 8’
27. Octav 4’
28. Bombarde 16’
29. Trompete 8’

Obviously it is dominated by 8’ stops. Its timbre is rather full and warm instead of brilliant. I hope there will be a second chance for playing it. Here are the stops I’m most interested in:

  • Prinzipal 8’ – full and warm
  • Flute harmonique 8’ – one of my all time favorite stops. The length of those pipes is twice the length necessary, while a small drilling in the middle of the length ensures the pipe’s pitch is correct.
  • Trompete 8’ – not a bawler at all
  • Vox coelestis 8’ – if you like programming pads with two detuned oscillators on synthesizers, this stop is for you. You will ask “How can I create such a sound on a synth?!?”
  • Terz 1 3/’5’ – a third. A unique stop. I had absolutely no luck programming it on a synthesizer.
  • Hautbois 8’ – another lingual stop. Another sound you won’t be able to program on a synth.
  • Bombarde 16’ – nomen est omen. The right pedal stop for bombastic pieces. Grand Jeux comes to my mind :)

Klangwelten celebrating its 25th birthday

Klangwelten, Tollhaus, Karlsruhe

Klangwelten, Tollhaus, Karlsruhe

Klangwelten is celebrating its 25th birthday, and we just attended the concert at the Tollhaus in Karlsruhe, where I already heard them two years ago. The event was just marvellous. Park Stickney’s instrument sounded more like a guitar than a harp, the singing of Katajaq (Inuuk) was more than impressive, Enkh Jargal’s singing and playing was just outstanding, Augus Wahyu Rhythm Explosion added liveliness (not to mention the great acoustic bass), and Terrence Ngassa really knows how to treat the trumpet.

There are several further tour dates. In case you have a chance to attend, do not hesitate – you won’t regret. And hurry up – Tollhaus was well crowded, and some of the concerts are already sold out!

Lineup:

  • Rüdiger Oppermann (Europe) – Harps, Morin Khoor
  • Katajaq Duo (Canada) – Inuit singing
  • Enkh Jargal Dandarvaanchig (Mongolia): Dinging, Violin
  • Park Stickney (New York): Harp
  • Terrence Ngassa (Cameroon ) – Jazz Trumpet
  • Agus/Wahyu Rhythm Explosion (Java) – Gendang drums
  • Jatinder Thakur (INdia) – Tablas

Once again, thanks guys and girls for an enjoyable evening.

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Edit: A couple of samples are available online:
www.klangwelten.com/festival/2011/2011_ton.html