Lars Kynde: Open Seminar / More Sound Residency

Open seminar and discussion about the possible implementation of a fluid tonality based on inharmonic overtones.

The harmonic overtones of strings and flutes has been foundational for the prevalent tonal languages in our part of the world. This defines the way we tune our instruments and the way we adapt intonation to each other when playing together in ensembles.

The American researcher William Sethares shows in his book, Tuning, Timbre, Spectrum, Scale, that other tuning systems, such as the Balinese gamelan or the Tai 7-tone tuning has an equivalent relation to the overtone series of the local instruments. These instruments are just sounding with inharmonic spectrums.

During his residency at IAC, Lars is analyzing the impact of strong magnetic fields on the overtones of strings. In doing this he attempts to find a method to control and tune the individual overtones.

Lars imagines how an acoustic instrumentarium of various metal objects influenced by controlled feedback or static magnets can be a fulfilment of Sethares’ vision of Adaptive Tuning, which is the idea that we should adapt the overtones of instruments to their environment instead of adapting the environment to the overtones of the instrument. 

While Sethares’ goal is to expand our understanding of classical concepts like consonance/dissonance and just intonation with the inclusion of inharmonic spectra, Lars also sees poetic potential in the idea of the instrument as a chameleon that can fluidly adapt to the world it encounters with potential in such chameleon instruments for both new interpersonal relationships and new relationships between humans and nature.

Read more about Lars Kynde's More Sound residency here.

The More Sound residency is organised by IAC and the Danish Composers’ Society and is financed by funds from Koda Kultur.

Read more about the More Sound Residency here.