Vox Arboris — a self-playing synthesizer the size of a tree

№ 01 — The work

A synth. The size of a tree. It plays itself (mostly).

Cut from sheet, branches and all, about 3.4 metres tall, with a full modular synthesizer built into its trunk. Switch it on and it plays by itself, never quite repeating.

Four years in galleries and clubs. Now it needs a permanent home.

№ 02 — What it does

Three things, all at once.

It draws sound in fire

A metre-long Rubens’ tube on one branch: the sound sets each flame’s height, so the fire draws the music.

It plays itself

Clock, chance and slow modulation drive the voices; nothing is sequenced or looped.

It listens to a plant

A living plant is wired into the circuit. Light, water and touch change what it plays.

№ 03 — The design

The plant decides what the synth plays.

Electrodes on a leaf turn the plant’s signals into voltage, set to a musical key. Any plant works, and each plays differently.

It stands between the two synthesizer banks and needs no laptop or phone.

Vox Arboris on stage at night, the tree lit blue and green while Spif plays, a projection to the right and the audience in silhouette in the foreground

№ 04 — In the room

What it looks like running.

Filmed at WIHH Gallery, Amsterdam.

The whole instrument in daylight at WIHH Gallery, the plant on its stool at the left

The full tree sculpture with its branching canopy, lit green and blue

The instrument on stage under blue light with a projection screen behind

Visitors gathered around the installation at WIHH Gallery

№ 05 — Where it has been

Four years of rooms.

Nov 2022Mayor Manor, Ten Club — AmsterdamMonth-long residency

Summer 2023WIHH Gallery — AmsterdamMonth-long installation

2024Odonien — CologneLive

Apr 2026A’dam Tower — AmsterdamLive

Vox Arboris at A’dam Tower at sunset: the white branches in silhouette against an orange sky over Amsterdam, blue stage lights above, Spif at the modular console

№ 06 — What is acquired

The whole instrument, installed and working.

The sculpture: Cut tree form, integrated console and sculpted floor. Freestanding, approx. 3.4 m tall, footprint approx. 3 × 3 m.
The instrument: Two Eurorack banks: percussion, melodic and textural voices, granular and reverb, clock and chance generators, quantisers, mixer, balanced output.
Plant interface: Biodata module and electrodes. A second plant channel on request.
Fire: One-metre Rubens’ tube with driver and mounting. Bottled propane, user-operated.
Documentation: Printed manual, two copies: modules, signal path, every connection, default patches, troubleshooting. A modular beginner can rebuild the patch from it.
Installation: Installed on site in person, with a walkthrough for whoever looks after it.
Tuning: Two sessions included to tune tempo, density, tonality, plant and fire to your room.

№ 07 — Who it is for

For rooms where people wait or gather.

Music venues

A centrepiece that isn’t a screen, playing on unbooked nights.

Labels & studios

A lobby instrument visitors actually touch.

Biotech & mycology

Music driven by a living organism.

Collectors

Working sculpture with four years of shows.

№ 08 — Acquisition

For sale, installed by the person who built it.

Sold installed and playing, with the printed manual, two tuning sessions and ongoing support. Price, terms and commissions for a specific room on enquiry.

Delivery from Amsterdam: collection, or installation in the Benelux by arrangement. Further afield, ask.
Fire runs on bottled propane, user-operated. Venues usually need it signed off; the instrument works fine with the tube off.
Support by arrangement: patch revisions, remote help and visits.

Enquire

Tell me about the room. I reply myself, within a day or two.

VoxArboris