As part of Tura’s Totally Huge New Music Festival 2011, Decibel present a concert of collected audio/visual works, pieces that incorporate both audio and vision as the core creative drive. My work split mirror planes will be premiered, for 4 instruments and 4 separate sources of audio and vision (in this case, 4 un-unamplified, un-projected laptops) as playback for pre-determined visual and audio events, while the performers improvise around evolving sets of instructions. The work divides the audio and visual processes as separate but equally-weighted entities, resulting in a spatial and (hopefully) engaging result.

Unfortunately I won’t be back in Perth for this one, but I highly recommend checking it out. Decibel are an excellent ensemble and really dedicated to thoroughly investigating and delivering their chosen concepts.

from the facebook page:

Most people’s current music is experience in association with constructed image. Through television, movies, music video, games, or even live performance the listening experience is often combined with visual action. This program looks at music that uses image as integral in its conception, construction and performance – from projected scores and films to images generated by sound.
4 world premiere’s: one Australian! Feat. Marina Rosenfeld (USA)

Marina Rosenfeld (USA): WHITE LINES (2003 ongoing) for film score and ensemble, feat. Rosenfeld live on turntables [Australian premiere]
Samuel Dunscombe (AUS): West Park (2011) for Bass Clarinet, Bass Flute, MaxMSP, and Quadraphonic Spatialised Field Recorded Sound [world premiere]
Austin Buckett (AUS): Mothlight (2011) for flute, percussion and electronics [world premiere]
Lindsay Vickery and Cat Hope (AUS): Exquisite Corpse (2011) for ensemble [world premiere]
Kynan Tan (AUS): Split Mirror Planes (2010) for 4 instrumentalists, 4 speakers, laptop processing and 4 video sources [world premiere]

Please note tickets are limited for this performance: booking highly reccommended!

More information at http://decibel.waapamusic.com/
tickets from http://www.pica.org.au/view/Decibel%3A+Camera+Obscura/1125/

Sound Chamber

dome installation project by Kynan Tan, Yvette Coyne, Malcolm Riddoch and Amanda Morrison.
view the ABC Sound Chamber Website

demonstration video of the inside of the dome visuals (better quality video coming soon!)

demonstration video of the hypnogenia audio engine, converting movement directly into sound and video

// description

This installation is a collaborative work between myself and project manager Yvette Coyne to translate my hypnogenia series into an immersive, contained installation. The main difference being that this time we were trying to build the work into an enclosed, inflatable dome with 360 degree visuals, four channel sound and infra-red camera capabilities. The goal of the work was to allow users to fully engage with the space, be completely disconnected from the outside world and have a very direct relationship between their movements and the environmental events.

(conceptual image of first audio/visual dome environments)

Along the way the work grew and grew, with the help of Dr. Malcolm Riddoch we added a lot of internet interactivity, the mac mini server downloaded user-uploaded sounds from the website as well as sending back videos of people participating in the space. We also developed a downloadable application for users at home to use on mac and PC. Oh, and there was also a short documentary made about it.

screenshot of downloadable application

examples of images generated by the program

The hypnogenia works capture movement using a basic USB camera setup and then analyse this information for movement and shape properties. This information is control the generation of sound from several granular modules. The video that is captured is also processed and mangled, then output back through a projector, in the dome this was reflected by a spherical mirror in order to cover the entire radius of the dome.

The dome has been installed at Scitech, Western Australia and will be making international stops in the coming months. Please contact us if you are interested in more information or booking the dome.

Download: application for Mac or Windows, or from the Sound Chamber Website.
And a more detailed concept and description PDF.

The project was only possible through the generous help of the DCA, Screenwest, FTI and the ABC

Recently I have been working very hard on completing my commission for Decibel new music ensemble and their Camera Obscura concert next month at PICA. Featured are some really big names and cutting edge visual-scoring methods used, in particular Marina Rosenfeld’s ‘White Lines” which utilises an amazing film score.

More reminders forthcoming, but here are some visual outtakes from my composition split mirror planes:

Yesterday I attended a fantastic just intonation ensemble performance led by Catherine Christer Hennix. The performance took place in the same space as an ongoing generative sound installation of light and sound frequencies, exploring the concept of a “soliton” or “an excitable medium which responds dynamically to vibrational variations in the environment”. The sine tones were interrupted by the instruments, causing standing waves, irregular pulses and a surreal sound world built upon long and exploratory, modal scales.

It was an inspiring performance. The audience were comfortably seated or lying down in the space, the installation and performance interacted beautifully and the musicians were clearly excellent performers but, more importantly, dedicated to achieving a homogeneous and densely logical sound world. It really makes me want to return to attempting just intoned vocals aided by electronic drones and feedback.

Collectively the ensemble is called The Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage, performing a work by Hennix titled “Blues Dhikr al- Salam (Blues al-Maquam)”.

The ensemble is comprised of:

Catherine Christer Hennix – voice, computer, sine waves and live electronics
Amelia Cuni – solo voice
Robin Hayward – microtonal tuba
Michael Northam – live electronics
Hilary Jeffery – trombone

The event took place at Grimmuseum, Berlin.

Unfortunately I created no image or sound recordings, but see ubuweb and Grimmuseum for more information and examples.

how to draw maps with minds

The record store that stands the test of time and continues bringing amazing, authentic garage gigs, Dada, has put together a compilation of live recordings from the past however-many years that highlights Perth’s wonderful and eclectic mix of music creators.

The download is available for free here. I highly recommend checking out the beautifully rain-interrupted “untitled” by Jane Harris, half hop half freak-out “JB/Opossum” by Seams and the oddball rap of “Dr. X” by The Good Boys.

I have the honour of having a brief (1:13) live recording included, titled ‘hone’. The section involves triggered processed-rhodes, vocals and electronic glitch grids. Super bass heavy and washy.

Rough version but indicitave of the sound of playing in an alleyway while cars attempt to drive past sitting viewers, due to the garage being temporarily flooded!

Big big thanks to local film-maker, promoter and all around great guy Ben Stewart and Rob from Dada Records for making this happen! You can also find track listing and read a review of the CD by Mess + Noise.

screenshot of sleep analysis data to be used for my tura new music commission
audio/visual work will use data, structure and imagery of data as influences for the composition