Maxime de la Rochefoucauld
Encyclopedia
Maxime De La Rochefoucauld is the stage name of Montreal-based musician and performance artist Maxime Rioux.
Rioux (October 29, 1959 –) is best known for his compositions produced on musical instruments that are homemade and often built specifically for a single live performance. Most instruments (usually string
or percussion) of his Système Ki, as Rioux calls it, are not played directly by a musician. Instead they are mechanically linked to a woofer
that is driven by an inaudible, extremely low frequency electrical signal. The signal, in the range of 1-10 Hz
, is most often generated on a synthesizer
and prerecorded, but may be played live or be generated from other electrical sources.
The name “Ki” refers to the Japanese translation of Qi
, the notion of a vital energy that animates all things.
Rioux is the brother of French-Canadian stage and film actress Geneviève Rioux.
Rioux (October 29, 1959 –) is best known for his compositions produced on musical instruments that are homemade and often built specifically for a single live performance. Most instruments (usually string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
or percussion) of his Système Ki, as Rioux calls it, are not played directly by a musician. Instead they are mechanically linked to a woofer
Woofer
Woofer is the term commonly used for a loudspeaker driver designed to produce low frequency sounds, typically from around 40 hertz up to about a kilohertz or higher. The name is from the onomatopoeic English word for a dog's bark, "woof"...
that is driven by an inaudible, extremely low frequency electrical signal. The signal, in the range of 1-10 Hz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
, is most often generated on a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and prerecorded, but may be played live or be generated from other electrical sources.
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
, the notion of a vital energy that animates all things.
Rioux is the brother of French-Canadian stage and film actress Geneviève Rioux.
Albums
- Automates Ki, Plastique Records, 1997 http://www.forcedexposure.com/Labels/plastique.records.html
- Collection Somnambule, Disques Pout Pout, 2002 http://www.actuellecd.com/fr/cat/mx_02/
- Orchestraki, Storyboard Records, 2006 http://www.storyboardlabel.com/storecanada.html