Imagine: a symphony of wood awaits your touch here at the Dendrophon Sculpture. This isn’t your typical silent sculpture. It is an instrument ready to be played.
The Dendrophon Sculpture invites everyone to make music. It is a unique instrument designed especially for outdoor spaces. Think of forest trails or even kindergarten playgrounds.
What exactly is a Dendrophon? The word comes from ancient Greek. “Dendron” means tree. “Phone” means voice or sound. So, Dendrophon literally means “tree voice”. This perfectly describes what it is all about.
The Dendrophon Sculpture consists of wooden elements that hang from a frame. These can be branches, boards, or hollow wooden pieces. They are designed to produce different sounds when struck.
Various types of wood may be used. Even wood pieces of different lengths and thicknesses can be combined. The type of wood, its length, and its diameter all affect the sound. The size of hollow wooden pieces also matters. This allows for a wide range of tones.
To play the Dendrophon Sculpture, use mallets. Wooden mallets work well. Hard rubber or felt mallets are also suitable. The best choice depends on the specific design.
Under the right conditions, a Dendrophon Sculpture can be tuned. Like a xylophone with hanging wooden pieces, melodies can be played with one or two mallets.
Here at the Dendrophon Sculpture, you will find six different types of wood. They are suspended by wire ropes on a supporting frame. These include spruce, oak, larch, beech, pine, and maple.
Striking each wood reveals its unique tone. This shows how density and moisture affect sound. Take a moment to appreciate the diverse voices of the trees. Let the Dendrophon Sculpture be your orchestra.