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UAL Research Online

Fortress for 3 musicians

Gardner, Thomas (2018) Fortress for 3 musicians. [Performance]

Type of Research: Performance
Creators: Gardner, Thomas
Description:

An outdoor piece for Violin, Cello and ‘Ouija board’ for the Fort Process festival

“Fortress for 3 musicians” explores the intersection between the musical territory generated by the score and the physical and political consequences of the fortress. It does this by interchanging the musical procedures of modulation, sequence, repetition with documentary processes of listening and recording, responding to the historical effects of the Fort on the surrounding landscape and observing its varied and often conflicting intensities and rhythms.

The piece uses a specially designed mobile performance system which allows us perform in otherwise inaccessible environments. The mobile unit also enables the visual projection of algorithmically generated musical scores.

The performance uses a number of new techniques:

1. The outdoor performances use a specially constructed mobile environment designed to function in urban and rural settings. The prototype, influenced by the Talmudic concept of the sukkah, emphasises the transitory nature of the structure, and allows a sympathetic encounter with the themes of the work. It is powered by electric car, and creates an environment which includes 4 loudspeakers, projector, computer and a 20 mtr blue sailcloth awning which shelters the musicians and audience. It can be assembled in any acoustically interesting location within range of a car-accessible track.

2. The projection of algorithmically generated scores for performance by two musicians, mediated by the player of the Ouija board. The scores are derived from the symbolic manipulation of a repertoire of musical gestures selected from the works of Domenico Scarlatti, Purcell, Schubert and Schumann.

3. The Ouija instrument, which uses the shadows of the performers hands to trigger field recordings,, control sound synthesis, and re-process the performances of the acoustic musicians.

Other Contributors:
RoleName
MusicianCoyte, Peter
MusicianRoberts, Andrew
Your affiliations with UAL: Colleges > London College of Communication
Research Centres/Networks > Creative Research into Sound Arts Practice (CRiSAP)
Date: 22 September 2018
Funders: Fort Process, Sussex
Related Websites: https://fortprocess.co.uk/automatic-writing-circle/, https://fortprocess.co.uk/
Related Websites:
Locations / Venues:
LocationFrom DateTo Date
Fort process, Newhaven Fort, Fort Road, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9DS24 September 201824 September 2018
Measurements or Duration of item: two hours
Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2018 14:33
Last Modified: 08 Jan 2019 10:25
Item ID: 13489
URI: https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/13489

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