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 guitar, arguably the world’s favorite instrument, is also a stringed instrument that uses these mechanisms. Before the guitar developed into the beloved instrument that we now know though, it went through various transformations from different countries from the world, throughout the centuries.

A Strum through History

The sound of a string instrument is instantly recognizable. Having been played and enjoyed throughout history, strings have made some major influences on the evolution of music. Resemblances of the modern guitar for instance, have first been placed in the third millennium B.C. The tanbur, a four-stringed ancestor of the guitar, made its way through Mesopotamia and the Middle East, being adopted and slightly altered to fit different regions’ tastes in sound.

Moving into the Renaissance era, the lute, a pear-shaped and more advanced rendition of the tanbur, had a short neck and more strings. The lute’s influence on the Renaissance art movement is depicted in several paintings and stories, and is characterized as an essential element to that era’s social scene.

In the 17^th century, the Baroque guitar took center stage. At this time, the guitar was steering away from using animal gut as strings because the stress placed on the organic strings was causing the instrument to break down more frequently.

With the increasing popularity of the guitar came the need for a more durable construction. By the 1850s, steel-stringed guitars have become more widely used for their sturdiness alongside nylon stringed guitars.

The development of steel-string guitars can be credited to Christian Frederich Martin, a German guitar maker who apprenticed under the most renowned guitar artisans of his time. Predicting a change in the taste of music, Martin set sail for America where he opened up a guitar shop in Pennsylvania. By the 1920s, Martin’s steel-string guitars were in every guitar player’s hands, further developing the sounds that would continue to shape modern music.

While the United States was going through a music transformation like this, musicians were demanding louder, higher-quality instruments that could keep pace with the generation’s upbeat music.

Shaping Modern Music with Steel

As styles of music progressed to louder, faster beats, so did guitars that needed to be heard in larger venues. Even with steel strings, the basic acoustic guitar could no longer appease musicians who were experiencing a boom in popularity.

By the 1930s, the guitar received an electric upgrade. With the ability to be plugged into speakers in amplifiers, guitar musicians could once again compete with the loud sounds of brass instruments. By the 1950s and 60s, the electric guitar had become a pivotal instrument in rock and pop music, forever being immortalized by legends like Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles.

There are now several different materials that electric guitars use for their strings. Besides the well-known steel, there are strings made of cobalt and nickel, each delivering a unique tone to the emitted sound. The acoustic guitar however, still largely uses steel for its crisp and unforgettable sound.

This is because steel strings produce louder, sharper sounds that have more twang, making steel-string guitars the perfect choice for rocking out and creating a high-energy atmosphere. Another reason is that the steel string is much more resistant to heat than its nylon counterpart. Less heat and tighter winding equate to less maintenance and tuning required.

Capturing Hearts and Imaginations with Steel-String Guitars

It is almost impossible not to enjoy and appreciate legendary acoustic axeman like Robert Johnson, Michael Hedges and Django Reinhardt harmonically slap and fret their way through entrancing rifts.

Through completely different genres ranging from classical, flamenco, jazz and rock to many others, the steel-string guitar remains the top-choice to play for the best musicians. When you turn the radio on or listen to your favorite band, you will most certainly be hearing steel-string guitars.

Steel strings can also be found on other string instruments with varying sounds and uses for specific genres of music, like the ukulele, violin, harpsichord and bass. Steel strings will continue to be used for acoustic instruments for a long time until a better, stronger material that emits a cleaner, louder sound gets discovered.

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Heart of Steel (Hemoglobin), 2005, Photo Credit: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Heart of Steel by Julian Voss-Andreae

Inspired by his background in science, Julian Voss-Andreae is a German sculptor based in Portland, Oregon. He began his artistic career as a painter, but later changed directions and returned to study physics, mathematics and philosophy at the Universities of Berlin, Edinburgh and Vienna. Voss-Andreae completed his graduate studies in quantum physics, then moved to the U.S. to study sculpture, graduating from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2004.

Voss-Andreae’s work, showcases his background in science, and has been commissioned for multiple institutions and collectors around the globe, including several universities. He has also been featured in print and broadcast media worldwide.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Hearts in San Francisco

The Hearts in San Francisco project began in 2004. One hundred thirty-one heart sculptures created by local Bay Area artists, were displayed for three months until they were auctioned. The project raised almost $2 million for the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, as well as a new level of exposure for its mission of providing life-saving care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay.

The hearts are located all over the San Francisco area. Some of the hearts are owned privately, while others are in public and easily discovered locations. Due to the Hearts in San Francisco project, the hearts are easily recognizable and spread a positive recognition of the Heart of Our City campaign to raise awareness and donations for the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

Pop Heart by Kristen Hoard

This is a contemporary tabletop metal sculpture created from recycled metal. This heart art is cut out of one piece of steel, which is pulled out to make the heart appear to pop out at the viewer.

Kristen Hoard began sculpting with metal in 1999. Based in Sacramento, Hoard participates regularly in art festivals throughout Northern California and exhibits in local galleries. Inspired by her experiences at Burning Man, Hoard now experiments with sculptures that incorporate the use of fire, flames and neon lighting. She has also completed several large corporate logo metal sculpture pieces displayed around the Bay Area.

Photo Credit: http://www.decordova.org/art/sculpture-park/two-big-black-hearts

Two Big Black Hearts by Jim Dine

Though Jim Dine was influenced as a young artist in the 1960s by pop art, his work draws significantly from abstract expressionism. For his piece, Two Big Black Hearts, Dine has incorporated casts of various objects, including hands, faces, seashells, hammers and other tools into the surface of the sculptures two large hearts. While this may appear to be a random combination of objects, Dine put great thought into the objects to use. The tools represent childhood memories; his grandparents owned a hardware store.

The heart is significant in whole context of Dine’s work, he has returned to this image throughout his career, using it as a backdrop for his expressions. This diverges from the traditional style of pop art, and Dine focuses on turning objects into emotion. He works in several media, ranging from painting, drawing, and mixed media to sculpture, photography, book illustration, and printmaking. Dine often utilizes mixed-media and collage techniques. His own personal items, such as his own clothing, shoes, and tools, become a part of his canvases. The artist now lives and works in New York and Vermont.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/heartfullnessproject

Heartfullness by Katy Boynton

Katy Boynton hopes to give hope through her Heartfullness project, which embodies the idea that even if our hearts are damaged, they can heal again. Heartfullness is a 12 by 15 foot steel burning heart. The transformed heart features fire elements that are controlled by pulling on its heartstrings. The flames can be viewed from outside, and from the cozy love seat made of woven rope inside the sculpture. The interior skeleton is made of steel, and covered by reclaimed sheet metal representing a reconstructed heart. The sculpture is complete with red LEDs that follow the beating of a heart on an audio file.

The sculpture debuted at Burning Man in 2012, and continues to be exhibited. Katy also creates stainless steel jewelry depicting her Heartfullness theme.

Photo Credit: http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.hk/2010/07/sculpture-in-garden.html

Stranded Heart by Diane Maclean

The Stranded Heart sculpture by Diane Maclean was donated to the University of Leicester by an anonymous party to support the Cardiovascular Research Centre (CRC) at the Leicester Glenfield Hospital. Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of illness and death in the UK, taking the lives of over 198,000 people every year.Diane Maclean works primarily with steel and stainless steel on a large scale and has exhibited her work widely in the UK and around the world.

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As one of the world’s leaders in steel manufacturing, POSCO has been integral in both the development of Korea’s economy, as well as the economies of its global business partners.

Steel has not only influenced lifestyles in practical ways, but has also made its mark culturally. Often referenced in pop culture (music and movies), it has also found its way into colloquial language.

The Language of Iron

Iron, a fundamental metallic element, is used as an adjective to describe strength.

Iron Grip

To have an iron grip means to have a tight grasp on something. It can also mean firmness or domination.

Ironclad

In the 1800s, military ships and vehicles were clad with iron to reinforce them against cannon ball attacks. Metaphorically used for something that cannot be broken, legal bindings can be described as ironclad.

Iron Fist

Iron fist is an expression used to describe a person’s strict control of a situation or a group of people. Historically, people often refer to sovereign leaders as “ruling with an iron fist.”

Iron Lady

Iron Lady has been used to describe female political leaders around the world. The term describes a strong-willed woman. The metaphor was most famously applied to Margaret Thatcher.

Steel Phrases

Iron is used to make an even stronger metal, steel. Like iron, steel is used metaphorically as an adjective to describe those who are strong-willed.

Steel Will

Frequently used as a positive characteristic, having a steel will is used to describe those who overcome adversity. Steel is often used to refer to one’s resolve, focus or determination.

Heart of Steel

Having a heart of steel can suggest one does succumb to emotional turmoil. This characteristic can be perceived as strength or coldness.

Steel Gaze

Having steely eyes means one has an intense gaze. Usually meant to describe those with strong determination, it can also mean their eyes reflect a hardness or coldness.

Coming Up

In October, with the theme of “History“ we will share stories focused on the history of steel as it drove agriculture and industry, enhancing lifestyles and connecting the world. POSCO’s long history as a leading steel manufacturer has played a big part of globalization. Stay tuned for the following stories.

POSCO’s Top Five Moments: The top moments from each decade of POSCO’s history

How POSCO Became POSCO the Great: From its beginning, how POSCO forged ahead to become Korea’s greatest steel producer

The Iron Age: Changing Daily Living: A historical view of the Iron Age and how it changed individual life

Steel History of Weapons and War: How use of iron impacted weaponry and war

The Industrial Revolution: Changing Society with Steel: How the Industrial Revolution changed life on a societal level, bringing about the beginning of globalization and urbanization

Movies

Edward Scissorhands

Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, Edward Scissorhands is an American cult classic. This was the beginning of a long cinematic career together for Burton and Depp. The main character has steel claws instead of hands, and grows up isolated from the world. A modern Frankenstein story, Edward Scissorhands deals with themes of exclusion, coming of age and love. (image: http://bit.ly/1NuLPx7)

Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias is an American comedic drama, adapted from a play for the big screen. The play writer chose a title that juxtaposes the tenacity and fragility of the main characters; tough as steel, delicate as a flower. The movie stars some of the biggest names in Hollywood history, including Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Tom Skerritt and Dylan McDermott. Steel Magnolias touches on the themes of life and death, family and the bond between a groups of friends. (image: http://bit.ly/1NuLUkm)

Terminator

The Terminator franchise began in 1984 and continues today. Arnold Schwarzenegger depicts the original terminator model, created to wipe out the human race. The story has been told in comics, movies, television, video games and books. The futuristic science-fiction story encompasses themes of military intelligence, artificial intelligence and genocide. The quotes, “I’ll be back” and “Hasta la vista, baby” are widely recognized everywhere. (image: http://onforb.es/1U8EGSg)

Titanic

The first film to gross over one billion dollars, Titanic is historical fiction based on the real-life sinking of the RMS Titanic. Written, directed, co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film centers on the love story of the two characters from different social classes, using the historical event as the setting. The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike and was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards. (image: http://bit.ly/1MHMCt7)

Kill Bill

Kill Bill is an American martial arts film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It was split into two parts due to its long running time. The two-part series stars Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox and David Carradine. The traditionally made Japanese blade, the katana sword, has a major role in the films, and Tarantino creates a character out of the fictional legend of the katana blade, made from repeatedly folded steel. (image: http://bit.ly/1MNgXId)

Music

Lykke Li, Heart of Steel

Lykke Li is a Swedish indie singer-songwriter who became a widely recognized recording artist following the release of her first album, Youth Novels. Her second and third albums were also met with critical and popular acclaim. She lends her voice to numerous collaborative efforts, writes music for movie soundtracks and is a successful fashion model. Her third album, released in 2014, featured the track, Heart of Steel. The moody melody and haunting lyrics include the refrain, “Oh heart of steel, you reel me in. Oh heart of steel, I can’t let you win.” (Image: http://bit.ly/1Lo4pqr)

Frank Ocean, Bricks and Steel

American singer-songwriter, Frank Ocean got his start as a ghostwriter for influential recording artists, such as Justin Bieber, John Legend and Brandy. He released his first mixtape in 2011, followed by his first full-length album in 2013. Both were received with critical acclaim. His debut album features a song titled Bricks and Steel, which compares a past partner as having had a relationship with a pile of bricks and steel. (image: http://bit.ly/1TX9nyP)

John Lennon, Steel and Glass

Most well-known as part of the phenomenon that was the Beatles, John Lennon is a well-respected solo artist. He is well-known as a musician and a political activist as many of his peers were. He recorded the tune, Steel and Glass, written a mystery man, sometimes believed to be his business manager. Lennon cryptically explained that the song was not about any one person, but many people. (image: http://bit.ly/1TX9pqv)

Tina Turner, Steel Claw

Tina Turner was born American, but now holds Swiss citizenship. Her infamous relationship with Ike Turner caused a stir following the publication of her autobiography, I, Tina. In addition to her relationship with Ike Turner, she is known as the Queen of Rock and Roll and is one of the world’s best-selling music artists of all time. She is a true example of an all-around entertainer; her talents include singing, dancing, acting and writing. Her career has spanned more than half a century. Her song, Steel Claw, addresses social and class issues of life in the U.S. (image: http://bit.ly/1Kz8IJI)

Outkast, Wheelz of Steel

Outkast is one of the first hip hop acts to gain both critical and commercial acclaim. Influenced by funk, soul, psychedelic, electronic, gospel and jazz, the duo helped popularize the “Dirty South” style of rap music. They are responsible for the soundtrack for the movie, Idlewild, in which they both starred. Outkast is the first and only hip hop group to ever win the Grammy Album of the Year award (2004, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below). In total, Outkast has won six Grammy awards and is one of the most successful hip hop acts of all time. Wheelz of Steel is featured on 1996’s ATLiens, and describes life in urban Atlanta, Georgia.  (image: http://bit.ly/1Jnxr7m)