Long Wire instrument. 20 metres of wires strung between steel resonating drums. These are played with rosined hands. Similar to Ellen Fullmans instruments, although not nearly as refined!
Image: Aksana Anastas

Live - Liquid Architecture Festival 2013 Long Wires (Excerpt)

Excerpt from Liquid Architecture performance using the "Federation Handbells". 
Image: Aksana Anastas

Live - Liquid Architecture Festival 2013 Federation Bells (Excerpt)

Massed handbell performance at Liquid Architecture.

Live - Liquid Architecture Festival 2013 Handbells (Excerpt)

Short example of the "vibrissa" rod instrument.
Microtonally tuned rod instrument played using rosined gloves. No electronics or sound processing..

Vibrissa 2

Short example of the "vibrissa" rod instrument.
Microtonally tuned rod instrument played using rosined gloves. No electronics or sound processing..

Vibrissa 1

The Overtone Ensemble at Strange Neighbour Gallery 26/04/15.
(Edit of the vibrissa section of the performance.)

Strange Neighbour Edit

The Overtone Ensemble perform and record using microtonally tuned metal rod instruments designed and built by Tim Catlin. Dubbed the “Vibrissa”, after feline tactile hair follicles (whiskers), these instruments are longitudinally stroked by hand and produce an ethereal, haunting sound. The long sustaining nature of the rods sound and close interval tunings allow players a sonic palette of shimmering textures and harmonic complexity.  Microtonal rod tunings allow the group to explore and manipulate acoustic phenomena such as phasing, difference and beat tones, sympathetic vibrations and room resonance. The overall effect is of a shimmering sound field full of internal movement, strange harmonies and complex overtone patterns.
(Although the instruments sound electronic, all sounds are acoustically generated, without effects or processing.) These rod sounds are complemented with bowed metal, acoustic guitars, wineglasses, handbells, long wire instruments and re-tuned glockenspiels.

Tim Catlin formed The Overtone Ensemble in 2012. Since then the group (Tim Catlin, Dave Brown, Atticus Bastow and Philip Brophy) have performed at festivals such as Slow Music, NOW now, Sound Out, Light in Winter and Liquid Architecture as well as various galleries and clubs.


The Overtone Ensemble

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