If a wood round fell onto a record player, would it make a sound? It would if it fell onto Bartholomäus Traubeck's record player.
YEARS from Bartholomäus Traubeck on Vimeo.Traubeck's record player has a needle unlike any other-it's actually a PlayStation Eye Camera attached to the end of the record player arm. It can "see" the tree lines in a piece of wood cut to the shape and thickness of a vinyl record, and sends the information into a computer running a music production software called Ableton Live. The software decodes the data and converts the tree ring characteristics-strength, thickness and rate of growth-into musical notes played on one of the software's piano synthesizers.
Traubeck used this process to record his album "Years." He made records from Austrian oak, maple, walnut and beech trees, among others. Each tree species, given their distinct characteristics, creates a unique and sometimes haunting arrangement.
