A long-term project begun as a collaboration between Purdue Polytechnic’s James Condron and Irish multi-instrumentalist and sculptor Joey Burns is now complete and will be installed in a County Cavan museum.
The final product, a functional electronic harp that uses a laser diode system in place of acoustic strings, will have its first showcase today at the Cavan Culture Night during a retrospective exhibition of Burns’ sculptures.
The original frame for the instrument (named the Yellow Bittern) was dedicated in 2012 on the occasion of Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins visit to the annual Irish arts and music festival. The subsequent laser system was created and gradually improved upon by Purdue Polytechnic students in the School of Engineering Technology. Students worked on the harp’s electronics with Condron’s sponsorship during their senior capstone projects.
Over time, student teams continually reduced the lag time between a user placing his or her fingers in the path of the laser, the system detecting this interruption, and ultimately producing the correct note. It is now near-instantaneous, meaning that the laser harp has response equivalent to an acoustic harp. The sound profile of the harp was created by looping sounds from traditional harps.
The first public performances of the laser harp will take place during the town of Virginia, County Cavan’s “Culture Night.” The 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. performances (1:30 and 2:30 p.m. EST) will take place at the Ramor Arts Centre and will be livestreamed.
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