Strings and Stuff

Strings from a monochord, guitar, cello, violin, harpsichord, piano, or zither span different bodies and are plucked, bowed, or struck. Virtual physical models of strings replicate their properties but no longer require a physical body. And yet, to produce sound, they need the vibrating membranes of the speakers. The two enter into a dialogue. Similarly, the speakers enter into a dialogue with the instrumentalists, conveying an audio score for the performance and a sound track for the audience.