Bill Close has developed the interactive aspects with a focus on creating situations in which a fairly simple action creates a complex, harmonious sound. For instance, with the Long String Sculptures or the Sonic Radiance Installation, one only has to run their hands along the extremely long strings to achieve a sound resembling a chorus of violins, then moving up or down the string they will discover other interesting timbres that tend to sound more like an orchestral brass section. The work is designed for multiple players. All the instruments are tuned together in a penatonic scale, which allows any tone being played to harmonize with any other tone. Through the sculptures, the participants gain confidence as they find simple ways to create well- rounded sonic harmony, which offers them means to experiment with this improvisational form of communication.
People have the chance to listen to each other and respond to each other.
They communicate and create together through the sculptures. The work also offers the viewer a medium that bridges Art and Science. The work examines the nature of harmony, harmony as related to chord structure as well as the harmonics within a pitch. For instance, when the Trinity Drone is activated, the harmonic range of a single note is discovered by lightly touching different parts of the string. The multiple string tuning structures explore consonance with the occasional dissonance.