Blacklodge

Interior piano re-amping, saxophone samples (Elektron Machinedrum), harmonic analysis system
Vocal performance by Richard English

This work treats the piano as a closed resonant system. All sound sources—voice and sequenced samples—are either performed directly into or re-amped through the body of the piano so that its resonance acts as a unifying acoustic filter.

An interactive harmonization process analyses sung vowels in real time and derives harmonic material from their spectral content. This material is used to accentuate regions of the piano’s overtone series. Instead of using a predefined spectral profile, the system extracts formant information directly from the sung vowels and uses it to shape the harmonic output.

Delay feedback is controlled by real-time harmonic analysis of the piano’s resonance. The harmonic profile of the instrument determines the behaviour and intensity of the feedback network, linking spectral content to temporal response.

Saxophone samples are sequenced using an Elektron Machinedrum, introducing a discrete textural layer within the otherwise acoustically mediated system.

The piece functions as an exploration of instrument-body resonance as both sound source and control signal.