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William Close: "America's Got Talent" Contestant
Visalia Education Foundation Fundraiser - September 27th
On Saturday, September 27, 2014, William Close a finalist on NBC Television's "Americas Got Talent", will be performing in Visalia's LJ Williams Theater for a special fundraiser for the Visalia Unified Education Foundation. Two performances are planned at 2:00 PM and again at 7PM. Tickets are now available for the 2 PM show (CLICK HERE) and for the 7 PM show (CLICK HERE). For questions or for those interested in purchasing blocks of tickets, call the Visalia Education Foundation office at (559) 730-7518 or email earthharp@visaliaedfoundation.org.
In 1999, William Close invented the Earth Harp, the longest stringed instrument in the world, with strings that extend up to 1,000 feet in length. He runs strings across landscapes or architecture to essentially turn them into instruments that he can then play like a cello. Close has done hundreds of Earth Harp installations around the world, from the Grand Theater in Shanghai to the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington and Burning Man in the Nevada desert. An inventor, Close has created more than 50 musical instruments.
The Earth Harp is played using violin resin on cotton gloves and musical bows. The performer’s hands are run along the strings to created beautiful cello like tones. The act of rubbing the strings creates a longitudinal compression wave.
This vibration is similar to the vibration patterns that produce tones when you run your finger around the edge of a wine glass. It is also similar to the vibration patterns created while playing singing bowls.
As William Close experimented with some of his early design concepts, he created a method of tuning the giant long strings; using a specially designed tuning block that he discovered could tune the strings to any scale. The instrument is typically tuned in an A minor scale……flats and sharps can also be included for certain installations, this is easily done by shifting the tuning block.
Since that day in 1999, William and MASS Ensemble have created hundreds of Earth Harp installations all over the world… from the Grand Theater of Shanghai to the Space Needle in Seattle, each installation is unique to its own environment. An Earth Harp installation celebrates the architecture and landscape of its surroundings. The environment and architecture are transformed by the strings, forever changing the perception of those lucky enough to see the installation.
CLICK HERE to watch a YouTube video from America's Got Talent.
William Close's audition on America's Got Talent consisted of playing music on an earth harp, an instrument invented by him that features many thirty-foot long strings. Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending him to the Vegas Round.
Close was one of only three acts (the other two being David "The Bullet" Smith and Olate Dogs) to advance straight to the Quarterfinals without auditioning in Las Vegas.
His Quarterfinals performance consisted of playing the earth harp to "Love, Reign O'er Me." He received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals instead of Sebastien "El Charro de Oro" and Unity in Motion.
William Close's Semifinals performance consisted of performing Muse's "Starlight" with the earth harp and a variety of different self-made instruments such as a suit resembling a violin.
CLICK HERE to learn more about William Close and the Earth Harp at his website.
CLICK HERE to download poster/sponsorship packet for William Close Earth Harp
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the 2:00 PM show on September 27
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the 7:00 PM show on September 27
William Close: "America's Got Talent" Contestant
Visalia Education Foundation Fundraiser - September 27th
On Saturday, September 27, 2014, William Close a finalist on NBC Television's "Americas Got Talent", will be performing in Visalia's LJ Williams Theater for a special fundraiser for the Visalia Unified Education Foundation. Two performances are planned at 2:00 PM and again at 7PM. Tickets are now available for the 2 PM show (CLICK HERE) and for the 7 PM show (CLICK HERE). For questions or for those interested in purchasing blocks of tickets, call the Visalia Education Foundation office at (559) 730-7518 or email earthharp@visaliaedfoundation.org.
In 1999, William Close invented the Earth Harp, the longest stringed instrument in the world, with strings that extend up to 1,000 feet in length. He runs strings across landscapes or architecture to essentially turn them into instruments that he can then play like a cello. Close has done hundreds of Earth Harp installations around the world, from the Grand Theater in Shanghai to the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington and Burning Man in the Nevada desert. An inventor, Close has created more than 50 musical instruments.
The Earth Harp is played using violin resin on cotton gloves and musical bows. The performer’s hands are run along the strings to created beautiful cello like tones. The act of rubbing the strings creates a longitudinal compression wave.
This vibration is similar to the vibration patterns that produce tones when you run your finger around the edge of a wine glass. It is also similar to the vibration patterns created while playing singing bowls.
As William Close experimented with some of his early design concepts, he created a method of tuning the giant long strings; using a specially designed tuning block that he discovered could tune the strings to any scale. The instrument is typically tuned in an A minor scale……flats and sharps can also be included for certain installations, this is easily done by shifting the tuning block.
Since that day in 1999, William and MASS Ensemble have created hundreds of Earth Harp installations all over the world… from the Grand Theater of Shanghai to the Space Needle in Seattle, each installation is unique to its own environment. An Earth Harp installation celebrates the architecture and landscape of its surroundings. The environment and architecture are transformed by the strings, forever changing the perception of those lucky enough to see the installation.
CLICK HERE to watch a YouTube video from America's Got Talent.
William Close's audition on America's Got Talent consisted of playing music on an earth harp, an instrument invented by him that features many thirty-foot long strings. Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending him to the Vegas Round.
Close was one of only three acts (the other two being David "The Bullet" Smith and Olate Dogs) to advance straight to the Quarterfinals without auditioning in Las Vegas.
His Quarterfinals performance consisted of playing the earth harp to "Love, Reign O'er Me." He received enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals instead of Sebastien "El Charro de Oro" and Unity in Motion.
William Close's Semifinals performance consisted of performing Muse's "Starlight" with the earth harp and a variety of different self-made instruments such as a suit resembling a violin.
CLICK HERE to learn more about William Close and the Earth Harp at his website.
CLICK HERE to download poster/sponsorship packet for William Close Earth Harp
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the 2:00 PM show on September 27
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the 7:00 PM show on September 27
