Tenori-On, and on, and on..
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Music Technology
Yes I know it’s been around for a year now but I’ve had a deeper look at this rather unique midi instrument from Yamaha (in conjunction with media designer, Toshio Iwai).
Its built in sound module has nearly 240 preset synth voices with 14 very useful electronic drum kits. 32 voice polyphony ensures a performance to be envied, and real time manipulation, triggering, layer changing and function selection is very tactile over the 256 led grid in conjunction with the numerous buttons and dial selector. Played very much un-like a standard musical/midi instrument, the Tenori-On relies on the user addressing the interface to intuitively play layers of ‘visible’ music (called ‘blocks’) by operating and interacting with the LED buttons and the light patterns they produce. The creative side may seem to be a case of just triggering the right ‘block’, pressing the right button, and effecting the desired cascade of secondary midi layers, but I doubt it is that simple though. A keen ear for melody, an innate feel for arrangement and pretty kick a**e timing are probably paramount to operating this very original instrument to it’s best capability.
It’s certainly not cheap, but if you’re looking to join that elite band of electronic performance musicians who like to express their art in a very different and stimulating manner, then this just may be the next instrument (and it is actually, an instrument!) on your shopping list.
Below are two videos, one of the Tenori-On’s creator taking us through a layer of sequences, and the BBC’s ‘hot for 2009′ tip, Little Boots playing the instrument in her live Jools Holland performance from late last year.
Tags: electronic, instrument, little boots, midi, tenori-on, tenorion, toshio Iwai, yamaha