Dance Chimes
Encyclopedia
The Dance Chimes is a foot-operated chime-like musical instrument
that consists of 9 bronze tiles, with mechanical sound elements under each.
. The name 'Dance Chimes' comes from the movement to ‘dance’, a connection between movement and sound experience, and ‘chimes’, the instrument most similar in material and sound.
Dance Chimes have been installed in public places worldwide, including Battery Park
, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
, Museumplein
, Amsterdam and also schools for mentally/physically handicapped children.
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
that consists of 9 bronze tiles, with mechanical sound elements under each.
Description
The 9 bronze tiles of the Dance Chimes are arranged in a square formation and usually in-built in the ground. The sound pads are triggered by sensitive hammers activated while hopping, jumping or dancing. The tone is bell-like and the notes are tuned in a pentatonic sequence and can be played note by note to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord.History
Invented and designed by Alfons van Leggelo in the 1970s , the Dance Chimes was created to relate the movement of walking directly with sound. The instrument, made of bronze is related to the physical properties of the carillonCarillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. The name 'Dance Chimes' comes from the movement to ‘dance’, a connection between movement and sound experience, and ‘chimes’, the instrument most similar in material and sound.
Dance Chimes have been installed in public places worldwide, including Battery Park
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales in Kensington Gardens, in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London....
, Museumplein
Museumplein
The Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
, Amsterdam and also schools for mentally/physically handicapped children.