At first glance, Resonate appears to be a static, glowing, string structure in a dark, drone-filled room. But enter the space and pluck any of the glowing strings and dynamic pools of light suddenly appear, as sound objects form a rhythmic and spatial counterpart to the drones. The interactive light and sound installation was designedContinue reading “Resonate”
Author Archives: Musicworks
Akio Suzuki
This article was originally published in Spring 2013. The applause following the introduction of Akio Suzuki at his first Toronto performance since 1984 quickly died down to reveal an echo emerging from the concert-hall seats. It was a consistent pattering—not a true echo but a sonic answer to the applause. The source of the soundContinue reading “Akio Suzuki”
Erdem Helvacioglu
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY When you’re caught up in the thick of it, all those cute, clichéd little epithets about turning life’s lemons into lemonade, spinning grave fuck-ups into rapturous inspiration, and the like, hardly seem to hold any wisdom whatsoever. Things suddenly went awry for Turkish composer and performer Erdem Helvacioglu whileContinue reading “Erdem Helvacioglu”
Nicolas Bernier and Martin Messier
“La chambre des machines is a project where two electronic musicians are driven by the desire to be involved, as physically as they can be, in a performance context,” explains Nicolas Bernier, discussing his ongoing collaborative work with Martin Messier. “It’s not a conceptual piece; it was made in action, from day one.” The actionContinue reading “Nicolas Bernier and Martin Messier”
The Ratchet Orchestra
In 1961, a virtually unknown African-American band was stranded in Montreal before going on to more promising territory. During their months in Montreal they would build up a local following, mostly musicians, who could hear that something different was going on. It’s a slight and unpromising story, but the band, Sun Ra and his SolarContinue reading “The Ratchet Orchestra”
Glenn Buhr
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY Definitions of personal style don’t get any clearer with life experience. This becomes obvious during my interview with Canadian composer and pianist Glenn Buhr. It also becomes clear however, that personal style can be evaded more deliberately with age. With impressive compositional chops at his disposal, Buhr can articulateContinue reading “Glenn Buhr”
The Ring Road, Iceland
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY It’s not often in a lifetime that you get to circumnavigate an entire country. And it’s not often that you come across an entire country that’s a small island whose most remarkable work of public infrastructure is a two-lane highway that hugs its coast. Iceland may be best knownContinue reading “The Ring Road, Iceland”
Jörg Piringer’s Sound Poetry App
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY The iPod touch is hissing loudly as two s’s move about the screen leaving a trail of fading s shapes in their wake. I drag the image of an r onto the screen with my finger, wanting to hear what effect that will have on the soundscape, but itContinue reading “Jörg Piringer’s Sound Poetry App”
Casa Da Música Builds A Home For Experimental Music
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY 1497. Lisbon, Portugal. Navigator Vasco da Gama commands the first ship to sail from Europe to India. During the fifteenth century Portugal’s navigators are at the cutting edge of innovation and world discovery, their travel exploits feats of experimental technique. While Vasco da Gama discovered the world’s vastness andContinue reading “Casa Da Música Builds A Home For Experimental Music”
Eldad Tsabary
FULL-TEXT AVAILABLE IN PRINT EDITION ONLY Israeli-Canadian composer Eldad Tsabary is omnivorous when it comes to digesting various influences, both musical and otherwise. With strong ties to Montreal’s electroacoustic scene, and as a lecturer in Concordia University’s electroacoustics program, Tsabary’s music takes the broadest definition of electroacoustics to heart. His work is influenced by acousmaticContinue reading “Eldad Tsabary”