What do you get when you combine 2 trombones, and Eigenharp, 2 wii nunchucks and Robocop? Evidently you get first prize at Georgia Tech’s 2010 Margaret Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition.

The Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology recognizes best new ideas for integrating musicality, design and engineering. The Double Slide Controller, an electronic double-trombone style contraption featuring two independent slides and two versatile hand controllers was their winning entry this year.

Tomás Henriques designed the instrument and demonstrated it’s computer music software, sensor technologies and flexible hand/arm gestures which combine to generate stunning, ethereal and complex timbres.

Gil Weinberg, Director of the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology said:

“The quality of submissions this year was extraordinary, and as judges it was very challenging to choose the prize winners. We believe that our top picks can help redefine what musical instruments can be and do in the future.”

The double Slide Controller was picked from 26 entries coming from from six countries, that presented the best integration of musicality, design and engineering.

Here’s what it sounds like being played:

Definitely an expressive instrument. Here are some of the runner-ups from the competition:

The Modified Didgeridoo by Kyle Evans (Chicago, IL)

The Magnetic Resonator Piano by Andrew McPherson (Princeton, NJ)

Silent Hands by Jaime Oliver (La Jolla, CA)

The Kalichord by Daniel Schlessinger (San Francisco, CA)

via and via

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