Holgersen & van der Loo. Untitled (oct 2012 – april 2013)

This piece was conceived from the idea to have the electronics and the acoustic instrument play a more or less equal role. Nowadays electronics are more and more being used to extend the spectrum and possibilities of traditional instruments. This sometimes reduces the role of the electronics performer to the role of a “co-pilot”. In this piece the electronics are used as an autonomous voice.

Sound generation is mostly based on feedback systems within a carefully combined digital and analog environment. There is no live processing of the double bass in this piece.

The double bass is using ‘extended’ techniques which are by their physical nature quite related to the roughness of the feedback processes used in the electronics. The pizzicato-, harmonics- and multiphonics techniques all have an instability that makes the sounding end result somewhat unpredictable. This fits the ever returning purpose of challenging the limits of the instrument.

The piece has previously been performed in The Hague and in Assen.

Thanks to Notam, Oslo for studio time.

duel protocol is a duo by Aurimas Bavarskis (LT) and Yiannis Tsirikoglou (GR) based in The Hague, the Netherlands . Both come from different adventurous backgrounds. Aurimas played in an indie rock band for over 5 years with which he got a lot of positive reception in the underground scene of the Baltic states, while Yiannis is a member of the Thessaloniki-based critically acclaimed experimental band Eventless Plot.

together they explore the limits of digital sound, perceptualization of systems to an aural/visual experience and human interaction. They are particularly interested in non standard ways of sound synthesis and light/sound feedback systems among others. They use only their own developed software for live performances and installations, plus specially designed equipment (like light sensor-based controllers and VLF receivers). Sometimes improvised and sometimes minutely composed, their sound varies from breathtaking drones to melancholic soundscapes, from pure noise to minimal glitches. www.duelprotocol.info

Stelios Manousakis. The piece ‘Palpebla Resonoj #1’, an open composition taking its final form in performance, is the first of a series of works exploring hybrid acoustics through the resonances and dynamic behavior of a sonic chimera: a self-designed, self-constructed (and self-repaired) feedback alto clarinet, created from a 60+ year old, discarded instrument.

The clarinet is the central element of a compound hybrid sound synthesis system that involves acoustic, electric and digital sound paths, all interacting with one another. Its body is used at the same time as an acoustic instrument, an interactive acoustic filter / resonator / feedback chamber, and a sound diffuser.

The project is part of research that has been in the works for 3 years, realized with support from the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS), University of Washington (Seattle, USA).
www.modularbrains.net