Hammers - Wacław Zimpel International Festival of Contemporary Music Warsaw Autumn

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Zimpel’s solo project is centred around the piano and its mechanical nature. He created a hybrid of the classical piano and a set of six electromagnetic hammers striking the keyboard. Each hammer is controlled independently by an analogue driver, which influences the speed of repetitions and the strength of attack. Such a mechanism makes it possible to create six independent repetition cycles and build complex rhythmic structures out of them, such as would be impossible to perform by a live musician. These cycles become a trance-like basis for improvisation, which depends on manipulating the tempi of the individual hammer-produced repetitions, but also on the classical form of sound production on the piano. Additionally, the piano’s acoustic sound is transformed electronically by means of numerous devices, which enhances the hypnotic experience of trance.