Storie di cose bizzarre
 
 
Qui presentiamo alcuni oggetti bizzarri presi dalle storie dello scrittore inglese James G. Ballard
 
 
from “The Soundsweeper” by James G. Ballard (1956):
 
 
 
Tinguely, Museum of Basilea (Svitzerland)
 
What is an ultrasonic orchestra?
 

It is a new kind of music made out of ultrasonic waves, which are sound waves so high in frequence that are not perceptible by the human ear.
Although human beings can’t hear anything, these waves create a direct neuro-connection between the sound-flux and the auditive lobe, giving the auditory a sensetion of harmony and rythm without the contamination of noise and vibrations (typical in regular music).
Musicians are also able to use a large range of scales and chords, which makes their music richer in structure, deeper in meanings and communicating emotions.

 
What are its instruments?
 

Piano: its short strings are made of pure metal. It produces a band of frequences between 30000 and 150000 Hz. It is tuned to play the same notes of a common piano.
Guitar: it’s 2/3 smaller than a regular guitar. Its strings are made of bronze or silver and it produces frequences from 50000 to 120000 Hz.
Violin: the diameter of its silver strings is half of a regular violin string, and the whole instrument is half smaller than a regular one. It can send out frequences between 400000 and 200000 Hz.
Xilophone: its keys are made of ceramics, which is a material that produces very high frequence from 60000 to 200000 Hz (depending on the measure of the key).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Based on a story of James G. Ballard:
 
 
 
 
 

an amplifier

It is possible to record very low sounds using a system of microphones connected to a cassette/cd recorder, in its turn connected to an amplifier.
To perceive a very low sound the microphones have a very thin membrane, meant to collect the sound pressures excerced by the sound waves, which will be converted in electrical signals. These will be recorded on a cd/ cassette thanks to a normal sound recorder. After that, using a computer, it is possible to isolate the sounds we need and record them once again on a second cd. The elaborated cd has to be put into a cd player connected to a sound amplifier, which will increase the sound level. In this way even the lowest sound will be very loud.

 
 
 
from: "Prima Belladonna" by James G. Ballard (1956)
 
"Khan Aracnide"
 
 
 
 

The Orchidea-Aracnide (Orchis Aragog) is a very rare plant. The first Aracnide was found in the Guyana’s forests. Its name comes from the Khan-Aracnide spider, that put its eggs into an ovum.

 
The first plants of this type were able to do just few musical notes ( only three scales ), by vibrating ribs in the goblet, but the most recent could extend their song to twenty four scales: this thanks to human intervention ( artificial fertilizations and new plants creation starting from existing ones ).
 
 
 
from Venus’ s Smile” by James Ballard
 
 
 

designed and built by Loren Drexel

 
Shape and dimension: With an height of ½ meter it seems like a big ball with two curved arms and a big central resonance box.
 
 
 
 

Material: Mainly steel to promote a clean and long sound.


Melodies: Produced by the passing of the air between the fissures (bad melodies – acute and irritating notes – good melodies of Beethoven and Mozart).


Characteristics: With the irradiation of the sun, there is a thermal expansion in height not in width, because the main feeble point is on the top of the sculpture.