Of the musical instruments most likely to be seen, wood and brass might be the most known materials, but if we look closely we can find creative uses of other metals, including gold, silver, platinum – and even steel.

Because steel is heavier than other metals it is typically not found in many musical instruments. However, today we will explore how steel and metal have helped to revolutionize sound and music.

Wintergatan’s 2,000 steel ball bearings

Swedish band Wintergatan debuted their self-titled album in the Spring of 2013. After 18 months of touring, founding member Martin Molin decided that he wanted to go in a different direction with a visionary project to build a musical marble machine. His contraption feeds 2,000 steel marbles through multiple tubes at varying heights to create a variety of rich, layered sounds.

Martin Molin plays Wintergatan’s Marble Machine. (Photo by Samuel Westergren)

Wintergatan’s programmable marble machine powers a kick drum, snare drum, hi-hat, sizzle cymbal, electric bass, and a vibraphone. The marble machine consists of around 3,000 parts, 3,000 screws, 500 LEGO Bricks, and 2,000 steel marbles. Originally scheduled to be built in two months, it took Molin more than 14; however, success came as their first YouTube video garnered more than 10 million views after just three days (it now has over 1 billion).

A close-up view of a few of the 2,000 steel marbles used to create the sounds in the Marble Machine. (Photo by Samuel Westergren)

Steel marbles are fed through these funnels to create its unique sound. (Photo by Samuel Westergren)

Molin built the marble machine in the style of older music that used loops. Telling WIRED, “…everyone makes music on a grid nowadays, on computers. Even before digital they made fantastic, programmable music instruments. In bell towers and church towers that play a melody they always have a programming wheel exactly like the one that is on the marble machine.”

Wintergatan’s Marble Machine must be seen (and heard) to be believed. The complexity of the simultaneously moving parts is mind-boggling to watch. Even more surprising – that such sound could come from steel marbles moving rolling through funnels.

To learn about Wintergatan and their other interesting projects, visit them on their social network channels (YouTube, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

The Theremin Revolutionizes Electronic Sound

If we rewind almost 100 years, we can find the introduction of one of the first electronic instruments. The theremin is an electronic music device that was patented in 1928 by Russian inventor, Léon Theremin (1896-1993). It is unique among instruments because it is played without any contact by the musician. Instead, the thereminist must move their hands in proximity to the two metal antennas that control the pitch and volume of sound. When building his first instruments,  Léon Theremin used a steel chassis to hold his new instrument.

The distinctive sound that comes from the theremin is due to the movements of the player’s hands. These movements give the sound a vibrating depth similar to vocal chords and violins. The theremin was particularly popular in America following WWII, but as more and more electronic instruments came onto the market, it fell out of favor among serious musicians.

Over time, many musicians became taken to the theremin – including Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones – however, probably none were more popular than the 1966 Beach Boys hit, Good Vibrations that used a theremin-like instrument on the opening chords of its smash song.

Barbara Buchholz playing the model TVox by George Pavlov. Photo by Gregor Hohenberg (Courtesy of Barbara Buchholz).

Before the theremin got in the hands of the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones, the most popular player was Léon Theremin’s protégé, Clara Rockmore (1911-1998). Watch her video below to see the exquisite expertise and talent required to play one of the first electronic instruments.

The music industry is always working to reinvent itself and find new and creative sounds. In the early 20th century, the theremin arrived to give audiences something breathtakingly new. Fast forward to the 21st century and we find steel helping artists create monumentally complex machines to create new music.

* Cover photo of Wintergatan’s Marble Machine, courtesy of Samuel Westergren & Wintergatan.

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Apart from music’s biggest night, the Staples Center hosts more than 250 events throughout the year including the games of the NBA’s Lakers & Clippers, the NHL’s Kings, the WNBA’s Sparks, and countless other events. It can host an LA Lakers game one night and in less than 24 hours, it will have transformed into an ice skating rink for the LA Kings (watch the video below to see how it is done). Rolling Stone magazine named it among the top 8 arenas in the US, and it remains one of the top grossing venues as well.

Watch the Staples Center transform itself through 6 events in 4 days.

Obviously a building of this magnitude requires steel in its construction. But a closer look at the Staples Center reveals some unique characteristics that make it stand out among some of the best venues in America.

The Supertruss Supporting the Roof

Most circular arenas and stadiums are built using a ring beam design; however, the Staples Center engineers decided to go with an exposed supertruss in which the structure’s framework is supported by one central truss that supports the building like a spine. At the time of its construction, no other circular sports facility in the nation had used such a design due to the high cost of the steel that had be used for the supertruss.

This supertruss, measuring 64m wide and almost 14m deep and spans the 132m roof with secondary trusses reaching out to connect to the walls. It was assembled in 5 separate sections more than 30 meters in the air, and after each section was complete, the mechanical and roofing systems were installed.

In this short timelapse video, the supertruss can be seen as its spans the diameter of the Staples Center

The Staples Center has hosted the awards show for 17 out of the last 18 years in part due to this roof and its ability to withstand excessive weight demands of up to 175 tons. Staples Center GM Lee Zeidman told Billboard.com that for the first show, he  hired a surveying company to make sure the roof didn’t warp and that the steel didn’t drop. He said, “Nobody had ever done that big of a Grammy show in a building before.”

Strengthening with Shear Walls

To support the Staples Center against the earthquakes that regularly hit the Los Angeles area, contractors needed to increase the structural integrity of the building. PCA, the contractor that made much of the cement foundation, explained that in order to strengthen the perimeter of the main bowl area, they included 4 curved shear walls up to 53m long and almost 49m tall that were used to counter the effects of the lateral load. Also, along the radial lines are 10 more cast-in-place shear walls up to 15m long and 76cm thick. The walls are all supported by large mat style grade beams with cast-in-place ring beams tying the walls together with the precast columns between them. The shear walls and structural reinforcements provide support to the Staples Center and the visitors in the building.

Connecting everything together with steel

In addition to supporting the roof and walls, steel runs throughout the rest of the Staples Center as well.  The concession stands and restaurants are all connected by seemingly endless steel pipes that deliver the beverage of choice to millions of fans, and the ice hockey rink could never be made without the help of pumps and stainless steel piping. Murray Company was contracted for the installation of the sump pump system (for the ice floor), water systems, fuel oil systems, and concession stand piping. They reported using “in excess of 68,000 man hours with a peak crew size of 40 tradesmen” to install the maze of pipes for the Staples Center.

Steel piping runs throughout the Staples Center helping to make sure everything gets where it needs to be. (Photo courtesy of Murray Company)

*Cover photo courtesy of mark6mauno

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Some of these landmarks date back more than 100 years, but they have endured. Go behind the scenes to see how director Damien Chazelle brought these classic buildings to life in the fantastical song and dance numbers of La La Land.

l Griffith Observatory

In La La Land, Griffith Observatory, and the park where it sits, is the setting for some of the more memorable scenes. Mia and Sebastian’s first dance number took place in Griffith Park on a road overlooking the city (see image below), and the observatory can be seen later in one of the couple’s various date sequences.

Sebastian and Mia at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium in the Griffith Observatory. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films)

The Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 on land that was donated to the city of Los Angeles by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith in 1896. Sitting atop Mt. Hollywood, the observatory offers views of downtown LA, the Pacific Ocean, and the famous Hollywood sign. Visitors can access exhibitions on astronomy and space while also enjoying access to public telescopes and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Floyd B. Barlscale)

With construction starting in June 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression, designers found materials and labor were cheap. The concrete structure was supported by a steel structure, while the three domes were raised “by wrapping copper sheets around steel frames.” The observatory has stood the test of time, hosting millions of visitors since its opening in 1935. However, in 2002 the observatory temporarily closed for restorations. The $93 million renovation retained the art deco exterior while updating much of the interior, including the planetarium.

Griffith Observatory (1933), Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Floyd B. Barlscale)

Due to its long history and iconic status in Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory has appeared in many films and TV shows. In addition to La La Land, it can be seen in Rebel without a Cause (1955), The Terminator (1984), and even The Simpsons.

l Watts Towers

During one of the film’s montage sequences, Mia and Sebastian visit Watts Towers – a collection of 17 sculptures made of steel, metal, and concrete reaching heights of over 30 meters. Starting in 1921 and continuing for 33 years until 1954, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia made these sculptures using steel rebar, concrete, and wire mesh. He decorated them using found objects, mostly refuse, such as the green glass from cola bottles, seashells, and blue milk of magnesia bottles.

Sebastian and Mia visited the location where Watts Towers stand. Finished in 1954, the towers made of steel and concrete have stood the test of time. (Photo courtesy of The City Project)

At age 75, Rodia decided to give up on the project and go live with his sister in northern California. The city of LA attempted to have the towers removed due to safety issues; however, the art community convinced them to conduct a stress test first. Steel cables were connected to each tower as a crane attempted to move them from their foundations. The steel and concrete structures held firm with the crane ultimately buckling under pressure – forcing the city of LA to acknowledge their safety and keeping them in place for the public to enjoy.

l Colorado Street Bridge

Sebastian and Mia also visited the famous Colorado Street Bridge, allowing audiences to revisit one of the older landmarks of Los Angeles. Finished in 1913, the Colorado Street Bridge was thought to be the highest concrete bridge at that time. Its beautiful arches sit 150 feet above the Arroya Seco and have provided a romantic setting for many couples.

Sebastian and Mia talk a walk along the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California. (Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Films)

When construction began in 1912, engineers faced several hurdles.  The slopes on both sides were steep and the arroyo bed was seasonally wet; however, engineers created a work-around by curving the bridge 52 degrees to the south and using massive archways to help reinforce the concrete structure.

To support the concrete bridge, the designers used a spandrel construction with support columns holding up the arched ribs of the bridge. In total, over 11,000 cubic yards of concrete and 600 tons of steel were used at a cost of $235,000.

The southward curve of the Colorado Street Bridge can be seen (sometime in the early 20th century). (Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Public Library)

The bridge was used to connect Pasadena to LA, but by the 1930s it was already overrun and insufficient for the city’s needs. After falling into disrepair in the late 80’s, and eventually closed after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the bridge reopened to the public in 1993 after renovations.

Today, the bridge is open to cars and pedestrians. Visitors can come and admire the design, concrete, and steel that have kept this bridge in use for over 100 years.

With award season in high gear, La La Land is poised to bring home quite a few statuettes. Behind the songs, love, and heartbreak sits the city of Los Angeles bathed in bright lights and decorated with some of the most beautiful buildings of 20th century America. Thanks to the steel holding them together, these structures have endured time, earthquakes, and multitudes visitors.

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In comes the triangle. Remember the triangle? You may have first encountered the simple instrument in grade school, as a tinkering tool to play with for band practice. It is often disregarded as a legitimate instrument and forgotten about, but the percussive idiophone should not be taken for granted.

Basic Formation

Unassuming in composition (it is literally an outline of a triangle), it is one of the only percussion instruments that is made entirely out of metal. It is usually shaped from a steel bar into an equilateral or isosceles triangle, with an opening at one of its corners.

Historically, the triangle was created from both solid iron and steel rod, but is now primarily made from steel. It comes with a playing apparatus, usually a steel beater, and hangs suspended from a fishing line. The thin suspension line lets the instrument vibrate freely and create its signature noise.

The simple triangle’s sound is affected by the sizes and materials it comes in; the preferred orchestra size is between six to nine inches in diameter and played with a steel or wooden beater, which dictate a distinct note. The instrument’s tones range diversely from a shimmering trill to a more substantial, all-encompassing ring, all depending on what the conductor wants.

From Rituals to Symphonies

Ancient Egyptians used the sistrum during dances and religious ceremonies. Today, it is considered to be the percussive precursor to the triangle.

The triangle was first introduced into the world in the 16th century, but it is actually a descendent of the ancient Egyptian percussion instrument called the sistrum, which was used for worship and other religious purposes. Percussion instruments were originally meant for three main purposes: religious ceremonies, military signals, and dance.

The triangle we know of today made its initial appearance as a part of Medieval religious ceremonies, showing up in paintings of Bacchic processions alongside pipes and cymbals. Yet unlike its modern rendition, the triangle of the Middle Ages had rings. (The rings disappeared in the nineteenth century.)

Now, the triangle is a permanent member of the modern orchestra, originally used as a way for composers to add a bit of a sparkle to their music. Out of all the musicians, the triangle player has the most unnerving role within a composition. They cannot risk trial entry during a performance since the tone can linger, so they must be very careful to make sure they play the right note at exactly the right time.

Concerto in Steel

For a post for the Utah Symphony, professional triangle player Eric Hopkins noted the difficulty and nuance in mastering triangle performance. Most think it just requires hitting a steel triangle with a baton, but it actually takes more effort and skill than this obvious method.

It eventually evolved and transitioned into compositions by Mozart and Beethoven, and nowadays, we see it as a permanent member of complete orchestras around the world. Franz Liszt was the first to make a solo symphony featuring the triangle, as heard discreetly down below in “Piano Concerto No. 1”.

Beyond the Classics

The triangle can appear to have a difficult time fitting in next to main attraction instruments such as the violin or the piano. However, the three-pointed musical underdog has traveled far from western classical music, now taking part in the folk and pop genres with its unifying sound. Both John Deacon of Queen and Joni Mitchell have featured its characteristic clang in their tunes.

In folk music, forró and rock music, the triangle is played by hooking it over the hand so that one side can be muted by the fingers to vary the tone. It is popularly used in Cajun music, where it is used as a strong beat, especially if no drums are part of the performance.

Light in Weight, Unavoidable in Sound

Without knowledge of its sensitive nature, it can be hard to take the fine triangle seriously. But by understanding that through appropriate manipulation of the instrument’s timbre and articulation, its musical elements can be conveyed with more complexity. Being especially particular to the way the triangle is handled is the key to playing it successfully.

Its steel frame gives it this unique chime, and while it does not play the most notes within a symphony, it has its virtues, particularly for its overarching tonal blending capabilities.

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The Global Contribution of the Steel Industry

Did you know that steel is making the world a better place every day? The amount of daily steel production is enough to build 548 Eiffel towers. Also, steel companies provided 7.8 days of training to each employee in 2013 and 8 million people which is about the same as the population of Switzerland, is working in the steel industry. Moreover, the $100 billion paid in tax is equivalent to putting 10 million students through school each year or building 5,000 new hospitals!

Watch this interesting video created by worldsteel to learn about steel’s global contribution!

Can You Imagine Your Day without Steel?

As mentioned above, steel is enriching the world every day. And, this marvelous material accompanies us through the day: in the bedroom, at work and every where we go. Did you know that steel is indispensable to our daily lives? If you are doubtful, just check the infographic below!

Even More Steel?

Have you ever imagined how pervasive steel is? Can you think of more steel use in our everyday life? Check out our previous postings to learn about the material’s ubiquitous presence in our life and share with us if you can think of anything more!

• What are Automobiles Made of?
  

The automobile is an important part of our daily lives. And steel is a crucial requirement to build this important part. POSCO’s light, but also very durable automotive steel sheets are advancing the global auto industry.

• What is Steel Used For?
  Steel brings amusement and vibrancy to our lives by bringing musical tunes to our ears. Find out more about what steel is used for and how steel is dissolved into our daily lives.

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Worldsteel’s #lovesteel Campaign

In September 2013, the worldsteel launched its #lovesteel campaign for social media and worldsteel website. The #lovesteel campaign is a series of short videos that highlight working experiences in the steel industry. The series consists of interviews of people of worldsteel member companies, and their insights on exciting world of the steel industry to inspire young people who are interested in steel career.

POSCO Also Participated!

In fact, as a member company of worldsteel, POSCO was one of the participants of the campaign. The 14^th video of the series features Yerim Kim who is working in Investor Relations at POSCO. Let’s find out what inspires Yerim to work in the steel industry by watching the video below.

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Read on to find out more about what steel is used for and how steel is weaved into our daily lives.

Surprise #1) Steel brings amusement to our lives!

Have you experienced the excitement of amusement parks and the thrill of roller coasters? Without steel, you would not be able to enjoy roller coasters!

Roller coasters go back to the 17^th century, but they first appeared in 1817 in Paris, France. It then spread to the U.S. in the 19^th century and by 1920, they became so popular that most amusement parks had more than one installed.

Due to the Depression and the rise of television, roller coasters temporarily lost interest. However, with the appearance of “steel coasters”, roller coasters regained the interest of consumers. Compared to roller coasters made of wood, steel roller coasters could be made higher, faster while also being more safer. As of January 2012, 94% of roller coasters (2,791) around the world are made of steel.

Surprise #2) Steel brings profound musical tunes to our ears!

Steel also allows us to hear wonderful melodies. The sound of the piano has a beautiful sound that can transport us to a heavenly state. Contrary to what you might have expected, pianos are constructed with steel – a material which you would not associate with delicate music, correct?

The strings (piano wire) found within piano are made of strong high carbon steel to maintain tension. To be produced, high carbon steel is heated above 900 degrees Celsius and then is dipped into a container with melted lead at temperatures between 430~520 degrees Celsius which is a process called patenting. The end product has high strength, high viscosity qualities which are fit for usage in springs as well.

Surprise #3) Steel keeps us alive!

Did you know that everyone has steel inside their bodies?

3g of iron is essential for our bodies to function. Though a minor quantity, without it, we cannot survive! About 60% is found in our blood, 30% is in our liver and spleen and the remaining 10% is found within myoglobin cells, cytochrome and other particles inside muscles and bone marrow.

Iron is necessary for the body’s red blood cell formation. When there is not enough red blood cells, this affects our energy levels so that we get tired easily.  60 to 80% of patients with anemia have iron deficiency, but the symptoms do vary.

In many cases, the symptoms of anemia are shortness of breath, face becomes pale, and signs of anorexia. Moreover, hair falls out, nails become weak, and skin becomes very dry. Iron certainly plays a very important role within our bodies so we should make sure we maintain it!

Other Facts about Steel that You Didn’t Know Before

Generally people assume that the steel industry is the representative industry that produces harmful pollutions as a byproduct due to the use of coal for steel production. However, when one takes into consideration the entire life cycle of raw material extraction and processing, steel actually produces the least emissions per unit among building materials.

Steel is the only building material that can last for over 100 years. In addition to the merit of long-term usage, 90% of it can be recycled again unlike other materials. One ton of steel can go through 40 rotations of the reproduction cycle so that the cumulative amount of usage is actually over 10 tons.

Steel is recognized not just for the manufacturing process but also as eco-friendly consumer products as well. Representative examples of this are the eco-friendly, high strength steel used for automotive steel sheets, galvanized steel sheets for automotive fuel tanks, chrome-free zinc-plated steel for home appliances and so on. High tension steel plates are thinner than regular steel plates, however, they are merited for making it possible to produce lighter cars. In addition, they can enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions and hazardous substances.

That’s not all! Japan and other major nations are looking towards the development of electric power transmissions and the component necessary for this to happen is electrical steel products. There is increasing demand for steel plates used for rotational machinery within motor units as the non-oriented electrical steels have excellent magnetic properties for efficiency.

Bright future for steel. There is no limit to the use of steel!

The necessity and importance of steel for society is increasing more and more. They say that steel already has a large influence on the things around us. They help make all things from needles to ships. However the boundaries are expanding even more! From housing and skyscrapers, to the numerous bridges and spires, steel is all around us. Steel is even found in our transportation that takes us from place to place as they are what makes up cars and subways too.

What was most surprising among the uses of steel that we introduced? Stay tuned for more stories on steel that we will write about here on POSCO’s blog!