WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD

In-Depth Introduction to the Ondes Martenot

This video captures an introduction to the Ondes Martenot by synthesist David Gerard Matthews from ContinuuCon 2024.

The Ondes Martenot is an electronic instrument, introduced by French inventor Maurice Martenot in 1928. It has limited sound controls, but has expressive peformance capabilities that go far beyond what most synthesizer can do, even today.

It has a keyboard, so it’s capable of being played quickly, with completely accurate pitch control. It also offers continuous control over volume, rather than a fixed envelope.

Additionally, it features a ring controller that gives you continuous control over pitch, if you want to play with vibrato, pitch bends or wide glissandos.

Dune 2 Sound Design Secrets Revealed

ContinuuCon 2024, held April 26–28 in the Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, synthesists Christophe Duquesne and Ed Eagan discussed their work with composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack of Dune 2.

They’re joined by music journalist Geary Yealton, who helps lead the discussion.

Zimmer hired ContinuuCon organizers and EaganMatrix developers Edmund Eagan and Christophe Duquesne to design and perform sounds for the soundtrack, along with Expressive E’s Guillaume Bonneau.

In the video, Eagan & Duquesne discuss their process of working with Zimmer, discuss the unique collection of gear that they brought to the project and demonstrate some of their work on the soundtrack.

ContinuuCon 2024 Schedule Released

Organizers of ContinuuCon 2024 – being held in Pittsburgh April 26-28 – let us know that the full schedule of events is now available.

ContinuuCon is an international conference that focuses on the Haken Continuum and instruments that share its EaganMatrix synth engine, including the Haken Continuum Fingerboard, ContinuuMini, EaganMatrix Eurorack module and Expressive E Osmose synthesizer.

The three-day event features an opening reception and two days of workshops, seminars and performances. Musicians from around the world attend and participate.

ContinuuCon 2024 is being held at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, in Carnegie, PA, a Pittsburgh neighborhood. All events take place in the Studio space of the Library, located downstairs under the main library.

Location:

Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

300 Beechwood Ave. Carnegie, PA 15106.

The venue is close to downtown Carnegie, which organizers say has a walkable main street, with restaurants and shops for you to enjoy, while in town.

ContinuuCon 2024 Schedule:

Thursday, April 25:

7:00pm – 10:00pm: Continuum Invasion

While not officially a part of ContinuuCon, several ContinuuCon attendees have agreed to perform on a live music event sponsored by local Pittsburgh underground electronic music scene performers. Continuum Invasion is Thursday evening from 7-10PM at the same venue as ContinuuCon and admission is free to the public (donations accepted at the door).

Friday, April 26, 4-8PM:

Evening reception and introductory words by Lippold Haken and Ed Eagan.

The evening will be rounded off by some music improvisation that follows a quick review of Chick Corea’s treatise on jamming given by Russ Hoffman and Rob Schwimmer.

Saturday, April 27:

9:50am: Josh Madoff – A Deep Dive into Osmose

11:00am: Josh Madoff – Counterpoint and Polyphonic Playing on Continuum

1:30pm: Christophe Duquesne – Additive Spectral Analysis Tool Updates

2:45pm: David Gerard Matthews – History and Demonstration of the Ondes Martenot

3:30pm: Rob Schwimmer / Ed Eagan – Ondioline Demonstration and Ondioline-inspired Jenny Oscillator Eaganmatrix Sounds

4:30pm: Open Discussion

Sunday, April 28:

10:00am: Christophe Duquesne / Ed Eagan – Dune 2 Sound Design Secrets Revealed

11:15am: Tony KT Leung – A Bowed String Player’s Gestural Controller Meets the EaganMatrix

1:30pm: Mark Smart – 3D Laser Show Controlled by Continuum

2:15pm: Paul Dempsey – HC One Plugin for VCV Rack