When we think about tablets, I always think about
books. One day they will disappear, because tablets are lighter and capable of
storing whole libraries which can be further enlarged with few clicks. We think
of royalties too, because most people will read for free, and of the lost scent
of the paper. While tablets revolution is still up for debate, literature is
not the only field involved, as clearly proven by the Brussels Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Its musicians have literally thrown away their music
sheets proceeding then to play Ravel’s Bolero and Wagner following the score reproduced
on 16 GB tablets. Brussels Philharmonic aims to complete the conversion from
paper to digital notes in few years, innovating and adapting the century-old
workings of an orchestra to modern times. This way, 25 000 Euros worth of paper
are saved by the Philharmonic over a year’s time, because every little change
in music sheets meant brand new copies to be printed. With tablets, a simple
click will be enough to update a whole score.
The performance is revolutionized, then, but this is
hardly astonishing compared to a robot capable of playing piano pieces, singing
and talking. TeoTronico can reproduce speeches, be dubbed in real time, answer
to audience’s questions and interact with them. TeoTronico has been designed,
produced and put together by the Italian inventor Matteo Suzzi and it’s the
first robot in the world able to play piano and perform with an orchestra. It
can play by itself or in a duo with a human pianist. The last will highlight
the difference between a mere reproduction and a more free interpretation.
TeoTronico can also follow the orchestra conductor’s lead, resulting in a more
“human” execution, especially if remote-controlled through a cable by a ghost
pianist situated off stage. Hearing is believing!
There are lots of news about music execution, then.
Tablets have programmes that simulate simple one-octave pianos, but also apps
reproducing drums, or adapters to connect an electric guitar to a Kindle and
convert it into a pedal board. There is even the possibility of integrated DJ
consoles.
A revolution is on, that’s for sure, and it’s up to
debate. It’s up to us understand what to do in order to protect forests and not
impoverish music: the tools are in our hands.
