My project offers a solution to this problem, by developing a new, well-defined visual representation of musical notes, tailor-made for this instrument. In addition, this new language will help new players to learn how to play the Pantam.
In the exhibition I present instruction manuals for playing the Pantam, that utilize the language that I have developed. Since each Pantam is tuned to a different scale and has a different number of notes, each booklet is intended for a different Pantam (total 5 examples). On the cover of each booklet there is a unique shape, a visual code representing the notes and intervals of the Pantam scale. In this manner, each scale receives a “visual name”.
The players can scan this barcode with their phone camera (with Artivive App), and hear the scale in the application. In addition to the booklets, you can watch video tutorials and listen to music samples.
© Copyright Yuval Ezov | follow me @yuvalezov
Each booklet is custom designed for a specific scale so that each player can connect and learn the language of the notes and how to play according to the notes on his or her instrument. However, you can use the booklets and the Pantabs method on each Pantam / Handpan musical scale.
The inner ring of the DNA code shows the musical intervals between the scale notes. The dot in the center represents the first note of the scale (the tonic).
The following notes of the scale are black rings and the intervals between them are white rings. The space between each 2 rings equals half a ton. Notes in PanTabs are usually marked with numbers. However, when writing PanTabs for a specific scale, they will be represented with the known musical alphabet (C=Do, D=Re, E=Mi, F=Fa, G=Sol, A=La, B=Si).
All the notes are organized along the outer ring. However, only the notes that are a part of the scale are visible. The top of the circle always starts from C, while the first note of the scale (the tonic) is emphasized, white on black. The following notes of the scale are organized clockwise. The shape that is formed by musical intervals between the scale notes is unique to this scale.
In this example, you can see the DNA code of the Pantam in Re Minor Scale: D / A Bb C D E F G A C The first note of the scale (the tonic) is A, the dominant is D, which is also the Ding.
Placing the two DNA rings together, inside the diagram of the instrument, creates a unique visual identity for the scale and for the Pantam.
Note: A line extends from the outer DNA ring towards the center inner ring; this line marks the Ding, as it is the center of the instrument.
