Eitan Shefer, an industrial designer fresh out of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, has published an interesting video of his graduation
project.

The project is for a music controller called the Samchillian, described as a musical instrument based on relativity.

The instrument uses the concept of keys representing relative notes, rather then fixed notes (as in a piano).

“The challenge was to make a product, which would be aesthetic, ergonomic and could be used on stage. Since this is a new and an unusual type of musical instrument a lot of thought went into defining an new iconic shape but one which still comunicates as a musical instrument.”

A video is available that provides a great introduction to the concept and details of the controller.

The controller is based on the ideas of Leon Gruenbaum, who invented the Samchillian Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee, a strange instrument with one of the greatest names ever.

Here’s Gruenbaum’s description of what a Samchillian is:

“It’s a keyboard that has no fixed tones associated with each key.
On a normal instrument if someone wants to hear a particular sound,
they press a certain key. Every time you hit that key you hear that
same note. But I had a different idea. With this instrument, it’s
possible to descend a series of notes with just one key. For example, I
have some keys prepared for G pentatonic [This is of course one of many
examples]“