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Variations 703
36" x 36"
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Artist Statement: "Variations 703" is an interactive music installation that engages viewers by
allowing them to control the music they hear by playing with the sculpture. The
music is written for multiple channels and composed in such a way that it can be
listened to with any combination of the channels. The music that is heard at any
moment in time is infinitely variable by moving the balls on or off the tubes to
control the volume of each channel. An outer group of speakers provides the 3D
sonic environment for the piece, and an inner group of speakers built into the
tubes of the sculpture are for people to interact with. The music is played back
through synchronized DVD players. The image above is a 3D visualization of the
installation at the Stedeliik Museum het Toreke in Tienen, Belgium, April-June 2001.
GPS and time data were used to provide the foundation for the music. The source
of the GPS data varied from everyday journeys to historical events. The principle
behind the music composition process is based on the temporal nature of music
and our daily lives. As we move about every day, we create a three-dimensional
path with an inherent time element. One interesting factor about the historical
events is the opening of a "window in time." Other than the trappings of modern
civilization, the sounds of a forest, sea shore, or historical building (cathedral,
for example) do not change significantly over time and are relatively the same
as they were hundreds of years ago.
The GPS and time data from the chosen events were translated into a threedimensional
music playback system. The time stamp of the points was scaled to
fit the length of the music, and the three-dimensional GPS data were fed through
multiple music channels to generate a specific sonic location. Artistic license plays
a major part in turning these data into a piece of music. Using the GPS and time
data as the basis for the composition, several channels of music were then layered
over this sonic structure to create the final piece. Future options include live
performances in the gallery space and incorporating video into the installation.
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