video upload by Sonic Artefacts
"Play chess and compose music, at the same time! This Sonic Chessboard is a passive Optical Octophonic Audio Panner / light sensitive "chessboard", based on the design by Lowell Cross for John Cage's and Marcel Duchamps' musical chess performance Reunion (1968). It routes 16 audio signals via the 64 light dependent resistors to 8 separate audio outputs. Cover the squares on the board with chess pieces or your hands to make sounds roll through a room and add to the spatial distribution of all the different inputs. Best to be played with a strong bright light mounted on the ceiling above the chessboard.
Limited edition DIY Kit, available at: https://sonicartefacts.com/product/so... & https://patch-point.com/collections/s...
The materials were originally made in small series for Wouter Jaspers' installative sound performance "Indeterminate Structures (2023). Big thanks to @Hainbach for playing chess with me and @Sonoscopia for the original sound installation and of course to the great folks of @patchpoint4043 for hosting us!"
Press release follows:
Berlin, Germany – Sonic Artefacts is excited to announce the release of the Sonic Chessboard, a unique DIY musical instrument that merges the worlds of chess and sound. Inspired by Lowell Cross’ design for John Cage’s Reunion (1968), the Sonic Chessboard offers a captivating way to create spatial sound experiences.
The Sonic Chessboard is a passive Optical Octophonic Audio Panner that routes 16 audio signals via 64 light-dependent resistors embedded in the squares to 8 separate audio outputs, changing the volume when a chess piece gets moved from one square to another. By strategically placing chess pieces on the board, users can control the volume and flow of sound, creating dynamic and immersive soundscapes.
This limited edition DIY Kit includes all the necessary components to build your own Sonic Chessboard:




A full-size CNC-machined chessboard made out of cork;
A professionally manufactured PCB;
All electronic components;
Mounting hardware;
3D and CNC files for customization;
A detailed manual and build instructions.
A Sonic Chess Adventure Awaits
The Sonic Chessboard invites you to embark on a sonic adventure, combining strategic thinking with creative sound design. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a curious beginner, this unique instrument offers endless possibilities for exploration and experimentation.
In the annals of avant-garde music, John Cage's "Reunion" stands as a unique and fascinating experiment, blending elements of chance, game theory, and electronic music. Premiered in 1968 at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto, "Reunion" was a collaborative effort between Cage and the legendary artist Marcel Duchamp, who was also a passionate chess player.
The concept of "Reunion" was simple yet revolutionary: a game of chess would determine the structure and sound of a musical composition. These compositions, created by David Behrman, Gordon Mumma, David Tudor & of course Lowell Cross, were then distributed to eight speakers surrounding the audience. The result was a dynamic and ever-evolving soundscape, shaped entirely by the random and unpredictable nature of the chess game.
The choice of chess as a structuring device was not arbitrary. Both Cage and Duchamp were fascinated by the game's strategic depth and its potential for generating infinite possibilities. Chess, with its rules and constraints, offered a framework for creating a musical composition without resorting to traditional notions of authorship or control. By relinquishing control to the game, Cage embraced chance as a creative force, echoing his experiments with indeterminacy in works like "4'33" and the "Imaginary Landscapes."
About Sonic Artefacts:
Sonic Artefacts is a Berlin-based company dedicated to creating innovative and experimental musical instruments. Founded by Wouter Jaspers (soundartist and co-founder/ex-CEO of KOMA Elektronik), the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of sound and sustainability with a focus on creating innovative electronic musical instruments that translate the forces of nature into sound and use recyclable materials, like wood & cork. Earlier this year Sonic Artefacts released the excellent sounding Cortiça Omnidirectional Microphones and Electromagnetic Field Sensors (both on discount in the Sonic Artefacts webshop with couponcode XMAS2024 for 20% off until 24 Dec 2024). In 2025, Wouter and his team will be releasing new instruments based around making music with radiowaves, stay tuned!
The Sonic Chessboard is available now in a limited edition of 30 pieces
via www.sonicartefacts.com & www.patch-point.com:
MRSP: 360,53 € (excl EU 19% VAT) / 429,00 € (incl. EU VAT)
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