Sony Creative Center, the design division of the Sony Group, announced that the ninth concert of the collaboration project "Ochiai Yoichi x Japan Philharmonic Orchestra" will be held on August 8st and 21th."null² Concert" (null²する音楽会) provides newly developed percussion instrumentsHug DrumThese instruments transform the sounds of their percussion into light, color, and vibrations, allowing hearing-impaired audiences to "experience music" through their various senses.
Percussion instruments as sensory mediums
The "Hug Drum" and "Handle Drum," developed by the Creative Center, instantly transform the sound of a drum into light and tactile feedback. When two instruments are played in tandem, the light and vibrations emitted by the other instrument interact, creating a symphony effect.
For this concert, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra set aside eight seats for hearing-impaired audience members. Professional performers operated "Hug Drums," transmitting the rhythmic beats from the stage through vibrations to "Handle Drums" in the audience's hands. This allowed the audience to feel the rhythmic pulse through their hands and bodies, creating a "tactile music" experience that transcends the traditional auditory-only musical experience.
Musical Experiment of "Five Senses Experience"
Since its debut in 2018 with the "Earless Concert" (耳でぴかない音楽会), the "Ochiai Yoichi x Japan Philharmonic" collaboration has consistently challenged traditional classical music performance formats. By integrating sound technology, sensory installations, and performing arts, the project promotes a new musical experience that embraces "all five senses, whole-body listening," driven by the core philosophy of "making music accessible to everyone, transcending generations, societies, and barriers."
The introduction of Sony's "Hug Drum" and "Handle Drum" is a significant step in furthering this vision. Besides serving the hearing-impaired, it also allows the general public to experience music in a more three-dimensional and diverse way, expanding the act of listening into a "whole-body sensory engagement."
A future created by technology and music
Sony states that the development of these instruments is more than just a supplementary tool; it is also an experimental exploration of how music transcends sensory boundaries. When performance no longer relies solely on the ears, the interaction between audience and performer will become more multifaceted, laying the foundation for future applications of "full-sensory entertainment."
Through this "null² Concert," Sony, Yoichi Ochiai, and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra will once again challenge the existing boundaries of performance, allowing music to truly become a cultural medium that transcends limitations and connects everyone.
