Isomorphic Instruments
The instruments listed here and on the websites linked below follow the principle of isomorphism, the identical or similar appearance of intervals in all transpositions. This means they are key-neutral and scale-neutral. Isomorphism is also found in many alternative notation systems.
Contents |
General
Intuitive Instruments for Improvisers (Paul Hirsh) - http://improvise.free.fr/
A website about isomorphic instruments, isomorphic panpipes, Janko keyboards, and more...
Keyboards, Accordions, Button Instruments
Generalized keyboard, a predecessor of the Janko keyboard that accommodates microtonal tunings (invented by R. H. M. Bosanquet, extended by Erv Wilson and others) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_keyboard , http://improvise.free.fr/bosanquet/bosanquet.html
Janko Keyboard Layout with two whole tone scale rows - on this wiki
Daskin brand Janko Keyboards (Paul Vandervoort) - http://daskin.com/
Chromatone brand Janko-style keyboards (Japanese company) - http://chromatone.jp/
Chromatone Lite for iPad - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chromatone-lite-for-ipad/id382628130?mt=8#
The Balanced Keyboard (Bart Willemse) - http://balanced-keyboard.com/
Chromatic Button Accordions - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_button_accordion
C-thru music's "Axis" instruments using the isomorphic harmonic table note layout - http://www.c-thru-music.com/ , http://www.theshapeofmusic.com/history.php
Wicki-Hayden Note Layout - on this wiki
Musix for iPad - http://www.shiverware.com/musix.html One of the layouts is the Wicki-Hayden.
AltKeyboards website on isomorphic keyboards, focusing on the Wicki-Hayden note layout (Ken Rushton) - http://www.AltKeyboards.com
The DIY Keyboard Project (Drew Wagner) - http://diykeyboard.org
Focuses on building alternative, isomorphic keyboards. It is an open-source hardware development project with the goal of making all of the CAD files, microcontroller code, etc. necessary for a hobbyist to build a digital keyboard freely available.
6-6 Colored Traditional (7-5) Keyboard (on this wiki)
Woodwinds
Isomorphic Saxophones and Flutes (Jim Schmidt) - http://www.jsengineering.net/
String Instruments
The Harpejji, an alternative, isomorphic string instrument (like a combination of a Janko keyboard and an electric guitar) - http://www.marcodi.com/ - on this wiki
Chromatic harp - http://www.chromatiker.de/Harfenbauer.html (Page in German)
Vibraphones
Isomorphic Vibraphone with a Janko-style layout, and three-color pattern (Roy Pertchik) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGXmPzspJWI
