Wise Thoughts from the Wise

This week class resumed, after a long weekend of Chinese New Year, with a performance by our very own lecturer, Mr Dirk Johan Stromberg. He showcased the piece using his Mac and only his voice. This particular simple piece was prepared and performed by Alvin Lucier back in 1969. The piece was titled “I am seating in the room”. Using his creative thoughts, Lucier created this simple piece by using his voice and his surrounding, Knowingly, he stutters during speeches, he created this piece to remove the irregularities he has on his “speech” just by using his vocal acoustic and the echo of the room where the recording was made multiple times. Different room size produces different resonance frequency which can be articulated by the echo. I felt that it was a reasonably innovative piece as to one connects his disability of speaking without stutter and the use of technology by just simply recording his 1^st speech and after which, keep playing a record as more layers of recording is done through the speakers. 

Alvin Lucier and his excellent piece - I am sitting in a room 

An interesting video, this time with a modern response to Lucier's

A week back, I have been brain-storming of what I want to achieve for my assignment 1. I thought of understanding the artistic movement of Silat Pengantin which is the performance done for the newlyweds. However I realize that it would be quite complicated if were to integrate it to technology, although if it seems possible using the versatility of MAX/MSP. The rhythm produced by the kompang during the performance seems much more an ideal solution but I am still thinking of how is it possible to integrate to MAX/MSP. At the same time, I thought of some other creative explorations that I wish to pursue.

Here are some videos I have seen and rate it interesting:

Electric guitar with many effects

 

Invisible Violin

LED RGB Music Visualizer

We spent the rest of the class to explore and explain what we wish to do for our assignment 1 to Mr Stromberg. It has to be able to interact with the audience. He aid our wild ideas to be much more innovative and artistic. Obviously, he would ask questions that we are not able to solve, but with patience we are forced to think out of the box to think of something which is simple, yet artistic.

I’ve got till this Wednesday to think of what I want to do. It seems to me that I have forecast several ideas; but just that I have problem to put them into words and answering the question “why?” Hopefully it goes better along the way. Believe!