Improvisation with Helmholtz' double siren

Hermann von Helmholtz, in his well-known book "On the Sensations of Tone", describes an experimental double siren that he used to investigate how the ear perceives beats, difference tones, and the consonance and dissonance of musical intervals. In May 2007, Martin Carlé restored the siren to operation and demonstrated it at the Workshop "Klang und Ton -- Fortschritte in der Erfüllung von Helmholtzens Vermächtnis", which took place at Humboldt University in Berlin. As the conference drew to a close, I wrapped up my talk and then ran my fingers across the beautifully crafted wood and brass instrument. Martin offered to let me play it -- how could I resist the lure of the siren's song! Here is the resulting improvisation...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Helmholtz
• double
• siren
• Tonempfindung
• Humboldt
• University
• dissonance
• beating
• Kulturtechnik
• just
• tuning
• microtone

[FretlessSix]

Anyone have any idea how to make one of these?

[SilverlakeDehners]

This siren will surely communicate with extraterestials.

[otacon451]

@FretlessSix you can see a closeup of one at the end of this /watch?v=xaBoC7tbAE0

[CaptainTarrtuga]

4:05 +5 Он взял нотки!!! Молоток!)))

[gundrag000]

they died !

[domibernard]

Bravo , we also have this siren

[domilare]

Bravo from Paris! Freshest piece I heard in years!

Dominique Larré

[koyteSSS]

bello..

per la musica psichedelica è ottimo

[Passing4human]

When bagpipes don't take their meds.

[webfiddler]

Had Helmholtz been in charge of the air raid warnings in the 40s, WWII would have had a much more pleasant tone to it all... function and style.