Short Summary of Erkki Kurenniemi’s instruments

• Erkki Kurenniemi (10. July 1941 – 1. May 2017)
  • Mika Taanila: The Future is Not What it Used to Be (trailer), 2002
• University of Helsinki Music Research Laboratory aka University of Helsinki Electronic Music Studio is founded during semester 61-62
• Integrated Synthesizer (1964)
  • Designed as main unit of UHMRL.
  • Build starts during summer 1964
  • Modules include:
    • Oscillator bank
    • Cluster generator
    • Harmony generator
    • 5 step CV sequencer
    • 5 channel mixer
    • 5 patch matrices for patching digital NORBIT modules
  • First recording session for Eino Ruutsalo: Hyppy in November 1964.
  • Retired around end of 1960’s when Kurenniemi left the studio.
  • Restored in 2017-2018 by me.
  • In the UHMRL collection.
  • Media:
    • User Manual
    • Front panel
    • Master Timer
    • Leo Nilsson: Scorpionen (1964)
    • Jari Suominen: On/Off Christmas (2017)
• Sähkökvartetti (Electric Quartet) (1968)
  • Commission work for M.A. Numminen in collaboration with Kullervo Aura.
  • Build starts during Spring 1968.
  • Instrument has a central unit and six controllers:
    • Melodiakone 1 (melody machine)
    • Melodiakone 2
    • Rumpukone (drum machine)
    • Viulukone (violin machine)
    • Valomiekka (light sword)
    • Filters
  • The central unit has three sequencers:
    • 10 step
    • 4 bit counter 
    • 5 bit counter
    • Most controller inputs can be controller with the sequencer.
  • In the UHMRL collection.
  • Media:
    • Controllers
    • Me with MA
    • M. A. Nummisen Sähkökvartetti karkotti satoja ihmisiä katsomosta, YLE
    • DIMI Trio & Irwin Berg live @ Wäinö Aaltonen Museum. WAMbience: Vox ex machina (2021)
• Andromatic (1968)
  • Commission for Swedish composer Ralph Lundsten
  • Build starts in July 1968.
  • In Scenkonstmuseet collection.
  • Media:
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WQ9Hi64R_0
    • https://youtu.be/0nELtJrsjpc
    • https://youtu.be/neiN5OtIpYc
    • Jörgen Städje: Andromatic, den automatiska andromedaren
    • Pure Data implementation by Amanda Andrén (2024)
• DICO/DCO/LDCO/DIGO (1969)
  • Commission for Osmo Lindeman
  • “Digitally controlled oscillator”
  • First Kurenniemi instrument with a digital sequencer
    • 12 steps, each step saves a state using 10 bits
      • 4 bits: note
      • 3 bits: octave
      • 2 bits: length of a note
      • 1 bit: output channel
  • Filter bank
  • In the UHMRL collection.
  • Media:
    • Osmo Lindeman in his studio 1972
    • https://vimeo.com/80931815
    • TV-uutisten tunnukset
• DIMI-A (1970)
  • Digitally controlled duophonic synthesizer with a digitally switched filter bank
  • Controlled by entering machine code commands.
    • 4 bits for opcode
    • 4 bits for parameter value
    • 8 bits for timestamp
  • Commands can be stored in the memory
  • Space for 100 commands
  • Timeline 16 bars / 16 steps, 256 steps total
  • Two units were built, one sold to Ralph Lundsten, the other one to UHMRL.
  • In 2015 Dimi is Reborn was started in order to document the instrument. Two more units has been built since that.
  • UHMRL DIMI still in the UHMRL collection. Lundsten’s DIMI in Scenkonstmuseet collection.
  • Media:
    • University of Helsinki Music Research Laboratory DIMI
    • Andromeda Studio DIMI
    • DIR-1 built with support from SKR, partially in Residency in EMS Stockholm 2015
    • DIR-2 built in Residency in Dimension+ Taipei, Taiwan 2017
    • DIR-3 built during workshop in Aalto Media Lab in 2022
    • https://vimeo.com/278832133
    • Composition for DIMI-A and halldorophone 2014
    • Composition for DIMI-A and halldorophone (live) 2014
    • DIMI, suomalainen syntetisaattori, YLE
    • Ralph och hans ljudkrumelurer (1975)
    • Andromeda desk
    • User Manual draft
• DIMI-O (1971)
  • Digitally controlled polyphonic synthesizer with video input
  • 38 step sequencer
  • Only note on/off data stored in memory (Y axis)
  • Analog filters
  • Possibility to combine data from the keyboard / memory / video camera in different ways.
  • Eventually sold to Ralph Lundsten. Bought back to Finland in 2014.
  • In State Art Deposit Collection. Currently placed at UHMRL.
  • Media:
    • DIMI, suomalainen syntetisaattori, YLE
    • DIMI Ballet (Dimi O showcase & performance)
    • Ralph och hans ljudkrumelurer (1975)
    • Vuorovaikutteisuus Erkki Kurenniemen DIMI-O-videourun käyttöliittymässä by Maiju Jouppi (2020)
• Dimix (1972)
  • Digital patchbay and analog mixer
  • Video output visualizes current patch
  • Video camera can be used to monitor recording studio
  • Partially working, but most audio signal switch relays mechanically stuck
  • In the UHMRL collection.
• DIMI-S (1972)
  • Touch controller polyphonic synthesizer for four players.
  • Each pair controls one oscillator.
  • Each oscillator has its own sequencer which is iterated forward or backward when contact is made.
  • Two non identical units were made. Both were sold to Ralph Lundsten.
  • First one is in the collection of Kiasma.
  • Second one is in Scenkonstmuseet collection.
  • Media:
    • Ralph och hans ljudkrumelurer (1975)
    • Jörgen Städje: Kärleksmaskinen – synten man spelar med hela kroppen
• DIMI-T (1973)
  • Brainwave controlled oscillator
  • In UHMRL collection.
  • Media:
    • PCB
• DIMI-6000 (1975)
  • Microcomputer controlled synthesizer
  • Four oscillators
  • Currently waiting for the restoration
  • Two units were made, other sold to YLE, other one to Ralph Lundsten.
  • YLE unit is now in the UHMRL collection.
  • Remains of Lundsten’s unit are in Scenkonstmuseet collection.
  • Media:
    • front
• Common themes
  • Automatic music generation: sequencers, counter sequencers
  • Frequency division, subharmonic series
  • ‘Digital’ circuits
  • Logic ports
  • Digital memory
  • Physical inputs, touch, video, brainwaves
  • Static filter banks