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! 11.02.2009 - 14.02.2009 "Ouroboros Orchestra"
! 15.02.2009 "VSA 2009"

"Ouroboros Orchestra"
11.02.2009 - 14.02.2009

Intensiiv-Workshop 7-le osalejale.
Eelregistreerimisega, kirjuta thetloff@gmail.com
Tasuta.

Ouroboros Orchestra --Derek Holzer

Keywords: basic electronics, graphical score, collaborative process, "circuit bending"

In order to create a beautiful, complex, non-linear system, it is often necessary only to combine several simple elements together. In this case, I intend to combine both people and circuitry. One could see it as a game for 8 persons--an orchestra of sorts--where each player has the opportunity to affect and be affected by the sounds the others create simultaneously. The core of this participatory game is a simple matrix mixer, which routes signals in varying degrees from 8 inputs to 8 outputs.

The elements which each player brings to this game will be circuits built during a workshop format over the course of the residency. There are many different kinds of circuits which can be created from scratch, such as filters, oscillators, mixers and distortions. Circuits which convert light to sound or sound to light, or which drive motors to create physical acoustic sounds are also possible. Or existing circuits such as guitar pedals, electronic keyboards or children's toys collected locally or owned by the players can be adapted for use. The main concern is that each circuit can both produce sound, and be affected or modulated by the sound it receives. One input and one output.

Each player will be responsible for the creation of their own instrument, with suggestions and assistance from myself, along with the addition of any kinds of knobs, switches, buttons, keys or sensors they would like to use with their performance interface. Each player, will come to have an intimate familiarity with the sonic possibilities that their instrument possesses. And with awareness comes mastery.
In performance, these circuits connected together via the matrix will form an immense and possibly chaotic feedback loop--a complex non-linear situation which, much like life, is globally affected by any changes which take place at any one of the nodes in the system. An infinite loop, a snake which devours its own tail. The wings of a butterfly in Africa do in fact cause hurricanes in the Pacific!

Working with the participant performers, I will try to bring some shaping force to the situation by analyzing what timbres, colors and textures of sounds it is possible for them to make, and then creating a graphical score for a live performance of approximately one half hour. The score should not be seen as a deterministic tool, but rather as a direction of the possibilities which the live interrelation of the performers might take.

By the end of this process, the participants and myself will have created at least 7 unique sound-making instruments which will be presented in a live performance situation, and which the participants will keep as a lasting legacy of their work. A multitrack recording session of the performed score will also be made, preserving each individual contribution but allowing all to be played together. The participants may also wish to speak during the presentation about their experiences creating, learning and playing their instruments. Or the audience may be invited to investigate the whole system first hand. In any case, the work should be seen as a product of all the persons involved, rather than an expression of only myself.

myspace
umatic derek
tonewheels

BIO:

Derek Holzer [USA 1972] is a sound artist with a background in radio, webstreaming and environmental recording. His work focuses on capturing and transforming small, unnoticed sounds from various natural and urban locations, networked collaboration strategies, experiments in improvisational sound and the use of free software such as Pure-Data. He has released tracks under the Nexsound, Sirr, and/OAR, Frozen Elephants Music, Mandorla and Gruenrekorder labels, and has co-initiated several internet projects for field recording and collaborative soundscapes including Soundtransit.nl. His recent projects include the electro-acoustic death metal duo "Abominations", the opto-electronic audiovisual performance TONEWHEELS, solo performances for analog synthesizer and a beginner's manual for Pure Data. He was also co-curator of the Tuned City event for sound and architecture, which took place in Berlin during July 2008.

14_02_09 d0k