The Game is an interactive sound installation merging the features and principles of card game (Rummy), instrument playing and musical improvisation into a temporary performative situation. The Game’s system uses a digital interface to translate information gathered in the course of a card game into a command score, which prescribes the way how differently designed motors play on piano strings and shape a unique space for generating music in the structure of a table game. The multi-layered design of the project puts participants into two distinct roles: they either partake in the performative situation as a listener who follows the game and the music dictated by the game, or actively participates in the game-play and becomes a part of this (un)predictable interactive sound situation.
The sound difference of tension between playing freely and playing according to strict set of rules, competition and unpredictability, arbitrariness and improvisation was designed by Andraž Magajna, Jaka Berger Brgs and Matej Stupica, and then developed in collaboration with electro engineer Brane Ždral and programmer Matic Potočnik.
Conceptual design by Matej Stupica, Jaka Berger – Brgs and Andraž Magajna
Design of mechanisms Matej Stupica
MIDI score by Jaka Berger – Brgs
Circuit Design and Programming: Harrows Crane
Programming Matic Potočnik
Text by Lenka Đorojević
Production Ljudmila, laboratory for science and art (Tina Dolinšek) and Projekt Atol Institute (Uroš Veber).
Many thanks to Dan Adlešič, Johannes Lohbihler, Miha Zupan, Martin Lovšin Schintr, Bojan Stefanović, Miha Kelemina, Klemen Glej and Jaka Mihelič.