Premiered at the 40th edition of Festival International Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, 05/13/2024 - 05/19/2024, Victoriaville (QC).

[ video documentation forthcoming ]

Description

Air Prism no. 1 is an algorithmic sound sculpture that harnesses string vibration under force of wind.

Centred around a deconstruction of the classical acoustic æolian harp, the subtle fluctuations of 119 tensile wires suspended in open air are shaped into a continuous live wind-propelled electronic sound performance. As wind flows through the instrument, the whole apparatus revolves, creating a sound field pirouette.

The æolian harp emerged in the ancient world, where wind was discovered to cause drying animal entrails to resonate. In 1781 William Jones wrote that “upon the whole, the æolian harp may be considered an air-prism, for the physical separation of musical sounds”. He said, “music is in air as colours are in light”, and so if light can produce multiple colours through inflection and refraction, so too can wind produce multiple pitches across a string.

Air prism no. 1 musically exposes a process in fluid dynamics known as vortex shedding. As the velocity of wind increases, imperceptible vortices curl around the harp strings, inducing a sonorous oscillating force. The instrument reveals a natural material performativity, as musical patterns are compelled to self-organize via the episodic inflections of wind upon singing wire. In concert with this living, fluvial system, electronic algorithms playfully interact, forming a series of perpetually evolving wind-propelled compositional études.

Credits

PETER VAN HAAFTEN
Concept & design, art direction, composition, sound, acoustics, electronics, programming, fabrication.

GARNET WILLIS
Visual design, concept consultation, engineering and materials research, fabrication, acoustics.

EVAN MONTPELLIER
Electronics, sound design, programming.

SUPPORT: This artwork was made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts.