Happy holidays -- As a special gift to all Pianoteq customers, Modartt has released the Tubular Bells instrument add-on. This virtual copy of tubular bells gives all Pianoteq users the chance to experience and use the regal, resonant sounds of tubular bells in their music productions.

The original instrument is made of brass tubes of graded length that are tuned to a chromatic scale and usually cover the range of 1-1/2 octave. The sound is produced by striking the top edge of the tubes -- which, we might add, can be quite difficult to reach because of their height -- with a wooden or plastic-headed hammer. The instrument often includes an attached damping mechanism. It appeared for the first time in England in the late 19th Century and since then, it has been a part of major symphonic orchestras, most commonly known as symphonic chimes.

Modartt's Tubular Bells add-on is modeled after a Bergerault 18-note concert chimes. Thanks to Pianoteq’s technology, the note range in the virtual copy is extended to a generous 4 octaves. Similar to church bells, the tubular bells have the peculiarity that the pitch is not given by the lowest partial. In the concert chimes, the pitch is given by the third partial. The add-on for Pianoteq includes three variants:

• Variant A ― partials corresponding to the original tubular bells pattern
• Variant B ― partials retuned in a major pattern, proportional to 5/16, 5/8, 1, 3/2, 2
• Variant C ― partials retuned in a minor pattern, proportional to 6/20, 6/10, 1, 3/2, 2

Audio demos are available at the Pianoteq Web site. The audio illustration for each variant consists of a major arpeggio followed by a minor arpeggio. You can listen and decide which bell you find the most appropriate for each kind of arpeggio.

The Tubular Bells add-on is available now as a free download for all Pianoteq customers. The add-on instrument is also included in the latest version of the Bells and Carillons add-on collection. For more information on Modartt's add-on instruments or Pianoteq, please visit pianoteq.com.