The Solenoids. Algorithmic guitar music.

The Solenoids

The Solenoids is an automatic guitar band consisting of 16 MIDI-controlled electromagnetic devices which play two electric guitars and two electric bass guitars. Their conductor is a Max program running on a Macintosh computer.
In cooperation with the IAAA Department of ArtiFacial Expression, The Solenoids participate in the Algorithmic Facial Choreography performances by Arthur & The Solenoids.
The design and implementation of The Solenoids was supported by a grant from the Amsterdam Foundation for the Arts (Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunsten).

Support Personnel: Alcedo Coenen (Software Engineering), Van Lagestein (Design), Remko Scha (MIDI Software), Yens & Yens (Electronics).

Concerts

October 1993. Rotterdam. Automatic music by two MIDI-controlled pianos ("Vorsetzers" built by David Trimpin) and four MIDI-controlled guitars ("The Solenoids"). Live image generation by Artificial.Mac.

Impakt Festival, De Kikker, Utrecht. "Autonomous Images", May 19, 1996. Lecture by Ernie Tee. Music by The Solenoids, film fragments by Jean-Luc Godard and others, and live image generation by Artificial.PC.

Faculty of Arts, University of Amsterdam. Colloquium Music and Technology. June 4, 1996. Lecture on Algorithmic Music by Remko Scha. Music by The Solenoids.

Theater Zeebelt, The Hague. Nieuwe Klank. December 20, 1996. Music by The Solenoids, Gert-Jan Prins and others.

May 6 - May 28, 2000. Institute of Artificial Art, Temporary Branch Office Rotterdam: "Work in Progress." TENT. Centrum Beeldende Kunst. Witte de Withstraat 50, Rotterdam. Concerts by The Solenoids on May 13 and May 20. With an installation by Artificial and concerts by The Machines.

Consortium, Oostelijke Handelskade, Amsterdam. October 28, 2000. An Evening with the Institute of Artificial Art. Program in conjunction with the exhibition Driessens/Verstappen by Edwin Driessens and Maria Verstappen. Also including an audiovisual performance by Artificial, music by The Machines, and a lecture by Huge Harry.

Improvised & Automatic Music, with automatic images by Artificial. Jam Session by Rik van Iersel (drums), Ger van de Beuken (guitar), ??? (saxophone), Agent Radio, and The Solenoids. Mu, De Witte Dame, Eindhoven, September 6, 2002.