Polus: The Design and Development of a New, Mechanically Bowed String Instrument Ensemble

Abstract

This paper details the creation, design, implementation and uses of a series of new mechanically bowed string instruments. These instruments have been designed with the objective of allowing for multiple parameters of musical expressivity, as well as including the physical and spatial features of the instruments to be integral aspects of their perception as instruments and sonic objects. This paper focuses on the hardware design, software implementation, and present musical uses of the ensemble.