Tenori-on is an electronic musical instrument, designed and created by Japanese artist Toshio Iwai and Yu Nishibori of the Music and Human Interface Group, Yamaha Center for Advanced Sound Technology. It consists of a screen, held in the hands, of a sixteen by sixteen grid of LED switches, any of which can be activated in a number of ways to create sounds. The LED switches are held within a magnesium or plastic frame, which has two built-in speakers located on the top of frame, as well as a dial and buttons that control the type of sound and beats per minute produced.
There are two versions of the device available. The original TNR-W (Tenori-On white) features a magnesium frame, 256 rear panel LEDs and can run on batteries whilst the more affordable TNR-O (Tenori-On Orange) features a white plastic frame, has no rear LEDs and does not take batteries. The modes and sound sets in these instruments are the same.
Both devices have an LCD screen on the bottom edge of the frame. Using the connection function, it is possible to play a synchronized session, or to send and receive songs between two of the devices.
Tenori-on was demonstrated at SIGGRAPH 2005 held in Los Angeles, CA in August, 2005 [1]. A detailed discussion of the design of the Tenori-on is given in a paper presented at NIME 2006 conference held at IRCAM, Centre Pompidou in Paris, France in June, 2006 [2].
Toshio Iwai has been using the Tenori-on in live performances (such as at Sónar in Barcelona, in June 2006, and Futuresonic in Manchester, in July 2006, the Futuresonic 2006 live show had some good feedback from the audience and that was one of the most important triggers to make it a real product). The instrument was launched in London on September 4, 2007 for a recommended retail price of $1,200 (£599).[3] To promote this launch, three prominent electronic and experimental musicians -- Jim O'Rourke, Atom Heart, and Robert Lippok -- were invited to compose "demo" tracks utilizing the device. These tracks have since been released as promotional MP3s from the Tenori-on website.
Iwai's intention in creating the Tenori-on is to create an electronic instrument of beauty. In his own words:
The instrument builds on Iwai's previous work, such as his Electroplankton software for the Nintendo DS in the blending of light and sound, as well as the aesthetic elements of the interface.
A World Tour introducing Tenori-on began in Frankfurt, Germany, on March 12, and finished in Tokyo on 25 April 2008. Artists on the tour included Jim O'Rourke, Atom Heart, To Rococo Rot, Pole, Robert Lippok, Sutekh, The Books, Krikor, Safety Scissors, I Am Robot and Proud and Nathan Michel.
Contents |
English comedian Bill Bailey occasionally uses this instrument in his live performances including his 2009-2010 world tour; it is featured in Dandelion Mind.
UK electronic singer Little Boots is also known for using a Tenori-On for live performances, and it has featured in the videos she has released on YouTube.[4]
Björk has used a Tenori-on in her live performance of the song Who Is It on Voltaic tour.
Jon Hume from New Zealand band Evermore has a Tenori-On built into his silver Gibson guitar used on-stage during the Truth of The World and subsequent tours.
Gotan Project on tour 2010/2011.
Mexican electronic music act Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible
Jonathan Coulton frequently uses a Tenori-On when performing his song My Monkey
Jean-Jacques Birgé has been using a Tenori-on live[5] [6] since Feb.2008[7], now playing simultaneously with two.
Future Loop Foundation use Tenori-On as an inspiration tool to jam along to tracks by playing it through a sound card.[8]