From baroque to folk, Teenage Engineering crafts a 'Choir' that sings all

Mellifluous symphonies, nip in the air, the cacophony of bells ringing in the distance, commence the anticipated holiday season. It is impossible to resist the carols and gospels that weave the spirit of the holiday season, especially with Christmas just around the corner twinkling lights, carols, and buoyant excitement that are typical of this season. The troupe of melodious voices resonating through church halls sure makes one wish that they could carry the exhilarating experience home. Sweden based electronics company, Teenage Engineering plays Santa this year and launches the portable musical ensemble: Choir. Inspired by the company’s very first project, the Absolut Choir—an art installation that debuted in 2007 as a set of 22 wooden dolls of varying sizes for the larger ‘absolute machine’ project— Choir is a group of eight wooden dolls that sing in perfect harmony, emulating an actual church choir. “Teenage Engineering choir is made to serenade you with a built-in repertoire of choral classics as well as perform your own original compositions through BLE MIDI connection,” shares the company in an official release.

Presenting classic festive tracks from Deck the Halls to Auld Lang Syne, the Choir includes a repertoire spanning baroque to folk. Alternatively, the little singers can even present the user’s own compositions via the company’s OP-1 Field, OP-Z, or any Bluetooth MIDI keyboard—conducting the choir to instantly sing any note that is played. What adds to the intrigue is that the eight dolls do not just possess different vocal ranges, but also represent different cultures from across the globe. Christmas traverses geographical borders and cultures, a diversity that finds home in the wooden silhouettes and their varying tonalities. A single member can customise its vocal range to sing an enthralling solo performance; when more than one pieces are placed together, in any combination, they communicate with each other and open into an acapella musical.

What goes on behind the curtains as the pre-programmed classic songs take over is an algorithm based on counterpoint melody, a compositional technique that refers to the independent yet harmonious relationship between two or more lines of melody played in tandem.

These wooden dolls—Gisela (mezzo soprano), Leila (soprano), Miki (tenor), Bogdan (bass), Hatshepsut (mezzo soprano), Ivana (alto), and Carlo (baritone)—easily steal the limelight, becoming the centrepiece of any space setup they occupy. The wood design for each doll is handcrafted from beech wood and individually polished in hard wax oil. Centrally placed inside each piece is a speaker module that also includes the main processor and Bluetooth low-energy transmitter. The product design is also rechargeable with four hours of performance time; at normal use—about 10 mins per day—the battery can last about a month.

Conducting and interacting with the Choir is an immersive act in itself. "An accelerometer inside the speaker box makes simple controls a playful experience," says the official release. A sensor within the speaker module responds to vibration and movement; the user can gently tap the doll on its head or on the table to trigger play or pause, tilt the doll left or right to decrease or increase the volume, respectively, or perhaps even give it a little smack to turn it off.

Time and again Teenage Engineering realises out-of-the-box concepts, keeping the consumers and competitors heedful to what is next, Choir is no different. Setting the festivities in motion, the product designers devise their own version of a Christmas present, but also so much more. Packed with innovative design and expertise, the wooden ensemble like all the other creations of the company is an “invention built to last.”