The Tafelberg
The Tafelbergs are a series of table string instruments. The
first Tafelberg I was made for The Dodos. The Tafelberg II was finished a
bit earlier, because Liam Finn was
earlier touring in Holland than The Dodos. Both instruments are pretty alike,
only the version for the Dodos is somewhat more solid in intonation, while
LiamÕs is allowing a slightly different playing technique on LiamÕs own
request. Apart from eachother both instrument have their own individual 12-tone
configuration, causing a different timbre. The blue version below is the one of
The Dodos. As can be seen the bridge distances are more equal divided. The
ratio of the Tafelberg one is 1:4/5:16/25, but slightly adjusted in intonation to
the Western 12-TET scale. This leads to twelve
fields of 6 six strings each which represent all 12 notes.
The Tafelberg I and II are based on a proto instrument I
made in 2005. That instrument consisted of 12 bars with 6 strings. This
instrument was very big. ThatÕs the reason why I made single bars was to make
is easy to transport. But all together is still filled half a car. Besides the
big space, as can be predicted 72 is not convenient when you have to tune the
instrument.
Therefore I found a compromising solution. With four bridges
I divided the strings in three divisions with specific lengths to create
multiple string fields tunable with only a few tuning pegs. This is not 100%
solidly working, since the tuning becomes more difficult to manage. The extra
bridges cause a delay in pitch, so it requires a bit more time compared to a
usual tuning. 24 is better than 72 though, when it comes to practical use. The
intonation is also not 100% solid. In case of the Tafelberg instruments this is
in my opinion no problem, since it was my intention to use a slightly off-key
tuning to create so called low humming difference interfering tones. ItÕs an
atmospheric droning instrument.
The Tafelbergs look somewhat like snow gliders, because of
the 90¼ angled tuning peg construction. That particular construction caused the
most convenient portable light weighted option I could think out. The
instrument is still big, but good to manage carrying alone. The KitaraÕs of Harry Partch have
quiet some similarity with the Tafelberg, only he has configured the pegs
differently, causing the instrument is much bigger.
Some more other types of Tafelbergs are in my mind to work
out, but new instruments require quiet some time.
The Tafelberg II
The Tafelberg II, invented for Liam Finn, is a blonde 24-string drum
guitar with 12 string fields. The instrument has four bridges dividing each
string in three divisions. On the Tafelberg II there is one long section and
two short sections. The short sections give the Bulgarian Cymbalom sound, the
long section is more equal to the sound of the Glenn Branca symphonies or the
loud parts of Sonic YouthÕs
cacophonic drone crescendoÕs. The instrument can be played percussive as well
as plucked and the long section allows to player to slide on. Underneath the
string fields in the long section there is a microtonal color dotted scale of
harmonic positions, equal the one present on the Moodswinger.
Tuning
Groups of 6 strings are tuned in one tone, divided over three octaves. So each string field section has 4 notes arranged by 6 strings tuned in one tone.
The four string groups in one bridge section are tuned in a
circle of Minor Thirds (for instance A-C-D#-F#). If the long section is A, the
shortest middle section is D and the section at the rear is E. With this
circular minor third tuning, this all together causes the twelve fields
represent all twelve tones of the common Western12-TET tone
system; the five black keys + the seven white keys on a piano.
Althoughon the Tafelberg II it is slightly different divided than on the
Tafelberg I. On the Tafelberg I all twelve notes fall within the same octave
interval. On the Tafelberg II the long section is falls in the range two
octaves lower than the other two fields.
Pickup configuration
The instrument has three outputs arranged in exactly the
same configuration as the Springtime Guitar
allowing to play the 4 groups of string sections mono or stereo in every
possible way.
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