concept |
history |
echo 1 |
echo 2 |
media |
listen |
robertjarvis.co.uk |
echolocation
echo 1
Along the River Cherwell (at the side of the Botanic Garden) were placed a series of bat detectors, each tuned in to the frequencies of
the particular bats that visit in the evening in search of food. As the bats flew past, their signals were picked up by the bat
detectors, and sent to a central computer hosting a collection of virtual instruments created in order to respond to the incoming
bat calls. These different instruments took the volume, pitch and bandwidth information inherent in the different calls to create
different voicings in the music and were then sequenced by a controlling score in order to shape the composition's harmonic depth and
overall form.
The resulting composition took the form of a four-dimensional experience, where listeners listened to the composition through multiple
speakers, experiencing the different sounds as they moved around the space. As well as this, sections of the bats flight paths
along the river were illuminated providing a dynamic visual stimulus to the sounds and allowing the audience to make the connection
between the corresponding music and the bat
behaviour.
As I worked on my various sound installations for the Botanic Garden and created the Echo 1 piece I also wrote a blog documenting
some of my process. You can read it here. It is also
possible to listen to an extract of Echo 1 by going to my
Listen page, where you
will also find a short radio review of the work.