"In C" is a musical piece composed by Terry Riley in 1964 for an indefinite number of performers. He suggests, "A group of about 35 is desired if possible, but smaller or larger groups will work."
If you don't know the piece, I suggest doing some research and highly recommend attending any live performance you encounter for a life-changing musical experience.
The idea is for a dedicated orchestra that can only play the C chord. This is achieved by creating a complete set of instruments that only play one note. For example, the stringed instruments would only have one string and a marked fretboard point that generates a C. The wind instruments would be similarly restricted, and the piano would have only one key.
As the instruments would be unique, they could be put on display as an integral aspect of the performance rather than being individually owned. In this way, musicians and entire orchestras could be invited to deliver a performance of "In C" using them.
Bravo, Terry Riley! For me, you are a god.-- xenzag, Oct 21 2024 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_C [xenzag, Oct 21 2024] https://www.youtube...watch?v=yNi0bukYRnA [xenzag, Oct 21 2024] Where is your idea?
Kudos for Riley. Have you seen him around here lately? Have him check in...-- minoradjustments, Oct 21 2024 Try reading the posting again. If you still have trouble understanding it, let me know.-- xenzag, Oct 21 2024 The idea shows a misunderstanding of the composition. Riley's composition does not just use "one note", or even "one chord". Each instrument has to play a number of different notes. The composition is for a conventional orchestra and could not be performed on the new adapted instruments you propose.
Proposing new single-note instruments is a worthy idea in itself, though it has also been proposed (see "single note bagpipes" on here, or the man who tuned his piano to A on youtube).Some orchestral instruments are already single-note (pitched percussion). Compositions exist that use them-- pocmloc, Oct 21 2024 Witness the vuvuzela, a crime against humanity. A kazoo without a soul.-- minoradjustments, Oct 21 2024 It occurs to me that they could play "In-C Wincy Spider".-- pertinax, Oct 30 2024 random, halfbakery