Introducing Bjork's Gameleste, a bespoke Gamelan Celeste Hybrid

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The epic Bjork Biophilia experience includes a live show, studio album, a new web site, a documentary, and a collection of iPad apps. 

Part of the Biophilia project sees Bjork commissioning the creation of new instruments, including the Gameleste. Part Gamelan, part Celeste, it’s the first of its kind. The mutant instrument can be played remotely via a MIDI keyboard. Watch the making-of below. 

Björk commissioned several custom instruments for the shows surrounding the release of 'Biophilia' - one is a hybrid gamelan celeste; the original steel bars of a vintage orchestral celeste were replaced with bronze tonebars hand-made by UK cymbalsmith Matt Nolan, and the instrument was rebuilt and MIDIfied by Iceland's top organ-maker, Björgvin Tòmasson. This is a 2-minute brief montage of the making of the 'Gameleste' Camera: Andy McCreeth Editing: Andy McCreeth and Matt Nolan Soundtrack Music: Matt Nolan

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.