Light/ Sound
A staging with Zumtobel apprentices.
With Gammon and photographer Christa Engstler.
“To feel the vitality of light, to awaken creativity with the help of sounds and rhythms and to promote enthusiasm for active creative activity in the present was the aim of this intensive work under the direction of the musician GAMMON (www.modularsynthesizerensemble.at), who conducted this sensational workshop with our youngsters these days.
In concrete terms, a wide variety of sounds and rhythms were individually created with the help of modular synthesizers. These sounds were modulated with the help of light and shadow. Out of this experimental process, they created a dramaturgical visual and auditory production, which was recorded on film in the final phase and also performed as a life performance.”
(Christine Reumiller, Zumtobel Group, Dornbirn)
The result of the project entitled Light/Sound:
Seven modular synthesizers were “connected” to different light sources in order to modulate the respective sounds. Conventional light sensors, so-called photoresistors, or LDRs, served as the interface between light and sound.
The “A-179-2 Light Controlled Voltage Source” module from DOEPFER converts the light changes that hit the light-sensitive components into a control voltage corresponding to the Modular Synthesizer. This allows the light changes to be used as a modulation source for various sound parameters.
The seven light installations were operated manually and thus became an essential part of the instrumentarium. For the interaction between the light changes and the modular synthesizers, a joint composition was developed which was filmed simultaneously with several cameras.
The live videos were completed afterwards in the style of a multi-camera edit according to the jointly developed composition.
The musical result on the first of the three project days.
Kacper: I learned how electronics work. And it was new to me how you can create modulations with light and shadow.
Enes: Three days is an ideal period for such a workshop, I felt very comfortable. And we were able to achieve a good result in that time. It was an exciting experience.
Okan: It’s fun. You can let off steam creatively and develop a feeling for the beat. Playing together with the help of synthesizers with different output tones is just like in real life: everyone is different and yet you have to harmonise when you work together. It can be that you don’t get along with someone so well, just like two instruments that don’t sound harmonious with each other right away. The important thing is that you still find a way to do the work together. Problems may arise that you just have to solve, just like in real life.
The musical result on the second of the three project days.
Samed: It was a good feeling to use the synthesiser for the first time. Now I have a better grip on how all the buttons work and how the modulations are done. Some synthesizers just sound much better than others and then you think that one is better, although you could just do something else with the other one that fits better. Even if you only find out later what this sound is meant for.
I find it quite exciting, I didn’t know it was so interesting to make your own beats, to produce your own music in this way.
Wayne: The synthesizers are very different acoustically, some sound better than others. You can make good music with them, the way you want it. I liked the drums the best. They are fun to work with.
(Interviews of the participants transcribed by Christine Reumiller, content approved by the persons mentioned)
A cooperation of the Modular Synthesizer Ensemble with the ZUMTOBEL company. With the kind support of Doublecheck and OeAD.
