Bells and Photocells

A live performance using my reconstruction of Percy Grainger and Burnett Cross's Electric Eye Tone Tool. Originally (1948-1956) a light-controlled synthesizer which used clear plastic scores to control pitch and loudness of 7 oscillators, I re-visioned the machine as a box of 8 photocells and a voltage to midi converter (by Angelo Fraietta) which could be used to control any aspect of sound or graphics. Here, I've got black foamcore templates cut out in gliding "hills and dales" patterns (Grainger's term) which I slowly move across the photocells, creating different levels of control. What is being controlled here is a series of vastly slowed down finger cymbal samples, modified and warbulated by Ross Bencina's AudioMulch and Cycling 74's Pluggo software. While I set the computer on to different patterns, I then play small percussion instruments along with the electronics. This performance took place in June 2008 at the Bomaderry Artists' Studios, on the southern New South Wales coast, as part of an art exhibition by Catherine Schieve, whose paintings are on the wall behind me.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Warren Burt
• Percy Grainger
• Electric Eye Tone Tool
• live electronic music
• computer performance
• AudioMulch
• Cycling 74 Pluggo
• Catherine Schieve
• interactive composition

[VYD239]

How to be cool when you're older.

[TheJUNGLESURFER]

incredible

[AudioMulch]

"Warbulated" - I like it!