Halldorophone development

Ongoing process, 2010 -

This model from early 2011 (seen in the hands of cellist Sandra Ósk Snæbjörnsdóttir) incorporates some experiments, ergonomics and added features not included in the #5.

Most noticeably a second set of strings below the fingerboard. These where suggested by cellist / composer Hildur Guðnadóttir who has used the halldorophone#5 and was interested in being able to keep a drone going while simultaniously being able to play the upper set.

In that sense the second set of strings is intended to be used almost like a sympathetic set of strings (like in a sithar or Viola de´amore) but in reality, with the electronic features of the halldorophone, it can also be “played” to some extent.

Design goals:

• It´s my intention to complete the design process to such an extent that I can accept commissions and be able to deliver a ready instrument in about 4-5 months.

• The new instrument will be a modular system: The Soundbox, pickups, electronics, fingerbord will all come apart with as much ease as possible, the two main reasons for this are to make repair easy, but also to allow for components to be changed and experimented with according to the players needs and interest.

• I have also realized the need to delegate the building of specialized parts to collaborators better suited to doing so than I. At the moment I´m working with instrument maker Jóhann Gunnarsson on the design of the soundbox and audio engineer Christian Zollner on the electronics.