Meet Ivana, a member of the alt-choir from the Netherlands - one of the 8 singing wooden dolls that make up the Teenage Engineering choir. Made of solid beech wood, with a built-in dynamic module, each doll can perform pre-composed music or be controlled by a MIDI keyboard, sing solo or with 15 other choir singers via BLE signal.
You see eight wooden dolls, created to serenade you with classic choir repertoire, as well as perform your own original compositions in MIDI format via BLE. Each participant has their own distinctive vocal range. Individually, each can sing a dynamic solo, but together they will perform an exciting a cappella concert. The choir is inspired by the original absolut choir, Teenage Engineering's first project.
Behind the Scenes
The pre-programmed repertoire of classic songs was created and performed using an algorithm based on melodic counterpoint - a compositional method that involves an independent but complementary relationship between two or more melodic lines played simultaneously.
Tap, tilt, or slap
To get the choir to start singing, they need a helping hand. The sensor inside the dynamic module responds to vibration and movement, making controlling the choir itself an engaging activity. Lightly tap the doll on the head or table to start or stop playback, or tilt the doll to the left or right to decrease or increase the volume respectively. If it starts to annoy you, you can gently slap it to turn it off.
Let's introduce our ensemble
Each doll, based on cultures and characters from around the world, is unique and has its own vocal timbre. Although each has its own voice type, an individual doll can adjust its vocal range to sing a dynamic solo performance. When multiple choir members are together, in any combination, they communicate with each other and recognize choir members within reach, joining in a full choir experience.
What's Inside?
At the heart of each doll is a magical acoustic module, which also functions as a central processor and BLE transmitter and can be charged for up to 4 hours. Each doll is handcrafted from solid beech wood and individually polished with hard wax oil. The speaker modules inside are both detachable and rechargeable.
MIDI compatibility for choirs is where the real magic happens. Conduct your choir with the OP-1 field, OP-Z, or any other MIDI keyboard with Bluetooth connectivity. Or connect the ortho remote control for wireless control. By connecting one doll, you will pair the entire choir, instantly playing notes from your composition. Like any live performance, each performance will be unique.
Full Repertoire
The beloved choir presents a collection of classic songs from baroque to folk:
- ernest ball, dave reed jr. – love me, and the world is mine
- tom pitts, raymond egan, roy marsh – i never knew
- wilhelm stenhammar – SVERIGE
- theodore morse, henry buck – dear old girl
- robert schumann, friedrich rückert – gute nacht
- harry armstrong, richard gerard husch – sweet adeline
- trad. european – warm-up exercise: signore
- al piantadosi, joe mccarthy – in all my dreams, i dream of you
- trad. israel kolmodin – den blomstertid nu kommer
- trad. american folk – i've been working on the railroad
- mykola leontovych – shchedryk (carol of the bells)
- trad. via robert burns – auld lang syne
- thomas morley – now is the month of maying
- trad. medieval – gaudeamus igitur
- trad. european – warm-up exercise: zing-a-mama
- shelton brooks – the darktown strutters' ball
- ludwig van beethoven – an die freude
- charles wood, thomas oliphant – deck the halls
- adolf fredrik lindblad – en sommarafton
- pierre attaingnant, césar geoffray – tourdion
- les applegate – goodbye my coney island baby
- johann sebastian bach – o haupt voll blut und wunden
- helan går – swedish trad
In the box:
- Synthesizer doll (Ivana);
- USB-C Charging Cable
- Manual
