Support Materials
A Line Form Noise prototype can be trialled here: https://petermcilwain.github.io/ALineFromNoise/
The works presented here are all concerned with the experience of hearing the spatial qualities of sound as it typically occurs in the world. It is of concern that as people are increasing living in urban spaces where the noise floor is so high the experience of hearing sound at a distance is not possible. The world of sound is collapsed into the immediate and the personal. In my recent work I've been attempting to reconnect our bodies to the natural world through a literal embodiment of sound - ie using sounds made by bodies and presenting these sounds in a musical spatial way that prompts audiences to reevaluate their sonic connection to space.
Example Recording 1: Bird Child Spirit
Bird Child Spirit is a multichannel generative sound installation for bushland and garden sites. It was awarded the Yering Sculpture Prize and has been successfully staged on 5 occasions in various locations around Melbourne. The work features recording of children local to the area where the installation is staged - these recordings are edited into a bank of around 600 snippets that are composed by generative software written by the composer. The installation runs autonomously over many weeks with a musical textures that vary both spatially and sonically. Photos of some of the installation sites are included below.
Selby
Selby
Mt Evelyn
Yering Station
install Plan
Franskston
Frankston
Example Recording 2: Lung Trees
Lung Trees is a sound installation of breathing trees that invites the audience to listen creatively, bringing our attention to the elemental nature of the breath and the carbon cycle and connecting the personal and global experience of life. speakers are placed in trees throughout the space of the installations and the software simulates a ripple effect where a tree will start a breath cycle triggering its neighbours to start which causes waves of sound to propagate across the installation space. It was featured in the Bicentennial Conservatory in there Adelaide Botanic Gardens, April 12-29 2024 and was visited by 1000's of people.
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
Adelaide Bicentennial Conservatory
Adelaide Bicentennial Conservatory
Adelaide Bicentennial Conservatory
Adelaide Bicentennial Conservatory
Adelaide Bicentennial Conservatory
Example Recording 3: Machine Creatures
These are excerpts from a work for 22 channel sound currently being created. The work features many software :"creatures" that behave like creatures in natural ecosystems. It comes from a thought experiment where maybe if robots where left to their own devices they might devolve into simple cooperative niches like we see in nature.