SONIC PLAYGROUND
MINIATURE ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA FOR ALL, 2012
IAIN MCCURDY (IE)
Sonic Playground features a number of instruments that use electronic sensors. The aim of these instruments is to offer visitors something that can be played intuitively; the way in which they work should be almost immediately apparent but, at the same time, should provide scope for expressive playing and exploration beyond merely 'making them sound'. In this special installation, the software for the instruments — the part that actually produces the sounds — has been redesigned so that they can be played together as an orchestra.
The sound software will help visitors to play together and make music. The design of the instruments uses simple materials, mainly wood, and primary colours to provide an attractive interface (just like real acoustic instruments) and to conceal their technological workings. The instruments featured in Sonic Playground are Squares (a surface of vibration-sensitive squares), Fingers (ten pressure-sensitive pads arranged as two hand-prints), Globes(circles of light sensors arranged around two silver globes, which are actually recycled Christmas decorations), Harp(an electronic harp with lasers for strings) and Sound Flowers (a set of artificial flowers that create sound when blown upon).
BIO
Iain is a composer originally from Belfast. Since January 2016, he has been lecturing at Maynooth University in the areas of electronic music, audio programming and composition. He also runs a hacking group.
Iain’s work has covered the areas of acousmatic, electro-acoustic, instrumental, sound installation and cross-disciplinary works involving all four. His work with sound installations and alternative controller design has drawn in the exploration of electronics, sensors and instrument building. This work often attempts to incorporate a technology counter-balance by employing simple geometries, primary colours and natural materials (wood and glass).
Between 2010 and 2015, Iain was based in Berlin, where he developed his interest in new instrument design and interactive sound installation work, as well as assisting a number of other artists with technical aspects of their own pieces. While in Germany, he undertook residencies at N.K. (Berlin), Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (HMTMH) and Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe (ZKM).