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K-Bow (Part 1)

Jeffrey Zeigler

A few weeks ago my quartet traveled to Syracuse University for a week long residency. While there we had many interesting and thought provoking interactions with the student body. Our activities ranged from giving a standard string master class to a screening and discussion about the film Requiem for a Dream to a discussion about how one could navigate their way through the music industry. We also worked with a team of film students for a music television show called Loud and Clear. But perhaps the most distinctive activity of the week involved our concert that utilized a new and extremely innovative technology. The new device that we used is called the K-Bow.

Before we continue I need to answer the question: what is the K-Bow? In the simplest terms, the K-Bow is a composite carbon fiber and kevlar sensor bow that can be used both as an electronic trigger and an effects processor. It comes in two parts—the actual bow which sends all of the movement and gestural information and the software K-Apps which allows you to map these gestures onto musical or video  processes. You can use it to trigger audio files. You can use it to manipulate the sounds that you make from your live performance. It has a built in looper. You can use it to sound like an electric guitar or use it as a pitch shifter. You can use it to interact with video, lights and surround sound speakers. Basically, this bow can do almost anything except make an espresso.

The bow is made by Keith McMillen Instruments (www.keithmcmillen.com). The bow’s visionary creator, Keith McMillen initially made his name in the field of electronic string instruments when, in 1979, he founded Zeta Instruments. These instruments revolutionized electronic string playing.

The K-Bow is not the only product made by KMI. they also make a foot pedal called the SoftStep foot controller, a chromatic keyboard foot controller called the Twelve Step, the String Port which is a device used to expand one’s sonic palate through MIDI and a battery charge measuring device the Batt-O-Meter.

So here is how the K-Bow works:

 

To get started you will need an Intel Mac OS 10.5.6 or later that can communicate via Bluetooth, has at least 30 MB free hard disk space and has a working audio interface to channel your instrument’s audio. You will also need an instrument with a mic or pickup to provide audio to your computer.

On the K-Bow itself, there is a grip sensor located inside the grip near the frog. There are also two sensors inside the stick of the bow. Within the frog there is an X-Y-Z accelerometer that measures the speed of movement and a bow length sensor. There is also a sensor that measures the pressure of the hair. With all of this gadgetry you may be wondering how much the bow weighs. It weighs within the same range as any other bow you will play on. In fact, mine is a little lighter than the wooden bow I play on.

Along with the bow, one also needs to attach something called the Emitter below their fingerboard. Don’t worry. This will not damage anything and will not even leave a mark on your fingerboard.

The Emitter transmits infrared and radio signals to the bow in order to read its proximity and position. This information is sent to the computer via Bluetooth.

There are two software programs that one needs to download in order to use the K-Bow. They are called K-Data and K-Apps. K-Data is used to make the connection with the bow which is made via Bluetooth. It is within this software that the computer is able to track the speed and positioning of the bow.

The other program is called K-Apps. This is the program that deals with all of the effects processing, looping and audio and video playback.

Here is a link to a video of the extraordinarily brilliant Jon Rose demonstrating the use the K-Bow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bddNDOQuyU

No question this bow will revolutionize electronic string performance. In future blog posts I will discuss the work that my quartet has done with this bow and more about our residency at Syracuse University.

 

 

Subjects: Technology

Tags: cello, cellobello, device, discussion, interactions, Jeffrey, k-bow, Kronos, Master Class, music, Quartet, Zeigler

AUTHOR

Jeffrey Zeigler

Described by the New York Times as “excellent”, and a player who performs “with unforced simplicity and beauty of tone”, Jeffrey Zeigler was the cellist of the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet for eight seasons. One of the most celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, Zeigler has performed over a thousand concerts worldwide, has premiered over 200 works and has collaborated with many of the world's most versatile and innovative composers and performers. In the process, Zeigler has played an integral role in redrawing the boundaries of the string quartet medium.

Zeigler has been the recipient of the Avery Fischer Prize, the Polar Music Prize, the President’s Merit Award from the National Academy of Recorded Arts and the Chamber Music America Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award among others.

Zeigler has given many notable premiers including works by John Adams, Laurie Anderson, Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz), John Corigliano, Philip Glass, Henryk Gorecki, Vladimir Martynov, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Valentin Silvestrov and Peteris Vasks to name a few. Notable collaborations include Asha Bhosle, The Bang on a Can All-Stars, jazz pianist Billy Childs, Noam Chomsky, The Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Philip Glass, Paul Hillier, Zakir Hussain, Nine in Nails, the great Azerbaijani singers Alim and Ferghana Qasimov, Afghani Rubab virtuoso Homayoun Sakhi, pipa virtuoso Wu Man, Tom Waits and Howard Zinn.

The 2013/2014 Season will see the launch of a number of new projects and collaborations. Highlights include a duo with Laurie Anderson and a trio with the experimental pianist Hauschka and the Finnish rhythm master Samuli Kosminen. Both of these collaborations premier at the River to River Festival in New York City. Zeigler will also be giving the world premier of a new Cello Concerto by Canadian composer Scott Good with the Vancouver based jazz band, The Hard Rubber Orchestra. Additionally, Zeigler will be premiering a number of newly commissioned works by Kyle Bartlett, Nimrod Borenstein, Anna Clyne, Bryce Dessner (of The National), Mohammed Fairouz, Jesse Jones, Glenn Kotche (of Wilco), Richard Reed Perry (of Arcade Fire), Paola Prestini and John Zorn.

Mr. Zeigler has appeared as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Toronto Symphony, the Royal Danish Radio Symphony, the Basel Symphonie, the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Sioux City Symphony and has performed under the batons of Seiji Ozawa, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Sir Roger Norrington, Mstislav Rostropovich, Peter Oundjian, James Conlon, John Adams and Dennis Russell Davies.

Over the course of his celebrated career, Mr. Zeigler has released over a dozen recordings for Nonesuch Records, Deutsche Grammophon and Smithsonian Folkways and has appeared with Norah Jones on her album "Not Too Late" on Blue Note Records. Zeigler can also be heard on the film soundtrack for Darren Aronofsky's film, "The Fountain" featuring music by Clint Mansell and including performances by the Scottish band, Mogwai.

Jeffrey Zeigler holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester where he was a student of Stephen Doane, and a Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where he served as the Teaching Assistant for Paul Katz. He then continued his studies at Indiana University under Janos Starker. Mr. Zeigler has also studied at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England where he was a pupil of William Pleeth and Zara Nelsova. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from the Cornish College of the Arts.

Zeigler served as the Cellist-in-Residence at Texas Christian University and as a Visting Lecturer at Indiana University at Bloomington. Recently, Zeigler was appointed to the Cello Faculty at Mannes College The New School For Music. This season, he will also be a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Oregon.

jzcello.com
www.blackshipmoment.com

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