This is the archived site of
Sensorband, the trio that performed from 1993-2003
Some previous concerts from the
period around 1998
Sensorband is the premier trio of
virtual instruments. Each musician uses interactive electronics in a different
way - making music from ultrasound, infrared, and bioelectric signals. They
have created a band that takes a rock power trio as metaphor. Edwin van
der Heide is the "vocals", working with ultrasound based 3D handheld
controllers to perform infinite time stretching on digitally sampled vocal
sources. Atau Tanaka is "guitar-bass" using muscle signals (EMG)
and gesture to play air guitar, and low bass parts. Zbigniew Karkowski is
"drums", playing virtual percussion in a cage armed with infrared
beams. As a trio they reconcile new technology with the immediacy and energy
of a rock group. With these new instruments the Sensorband musicians takes
the group dynamic beyond the limitations of guitar, bass, and drums. The
result is a powerful musical force of intense percussive rhythms, deep pulsing
drones, and wailing melodic fragments.
Sensorband has also created a monumental 121 sq meter musical instrument
called Soundnet.
The members of the Sensorband came together performing in the experimental
music scene in Europe. Edwin and Zbigniew went together to the summer courses
in Darmstadt. Atau met Zbigniew in San Francisco during a USA tour. They
performed as soloists in the festival Sonimage at Tacheles in Berlin in
1993. A few months later, they premiered the Sensorband at Voyages Virtuels
in Paris, then in 1994 at The Paradiso in Amsterdam. While geographical
distance has prevented these musicians from performing together more often,
this has been partially overcome by network technology. In 1995 the Sensorband
appeared at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona, with Atau in Barcelona, and
with Edwin and Zbigniew performing from Amsterdam via ISDN providing video
and audio connections.
EDWIN
ZBIGNIEW
ATAU
photos Pieter Kers