Echo Moiré
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ABOUT
Echo Moiré is a robotic opera-ballet in which a pair of loudspeaker vehicles is employed to play a room as a musical instrument. Exploring the acoustic properties of the room, the vehicles create aural images that float in the air, enveloping listeners with patterns of echoes rebounding off the walls.
The work is inspired by Alvin Lucier’s 1968 composition Vespers and investigates human echolocation, aural spatial perception and the physics of sound. Using mobile directional loudspeakers emitting trains of pulses, the trajectories followed by sound waves from source to listener are made apparent. Gradually scanning the room’s boundaries, aural images of the space are formed. Modulating the pulses over time, these images are manipulated and sculpted, giving rise to different spatial forms, textures and densities in which the audience is immersed. Staging forms of interaction that alternate between the two poles of attraction and threat, the piece activates a referential mode of listening rooted in instincts of navigation and survival.
PRESS
Review by Cathy van Eck on Between Air and Electricity
Echo Moiré is a robotic opera-ballet in which a pair of loudspeaker vehicles is employed to play a room as a musical instrument. Exploring the acoustic properties of the room, the vehicles create aural images that float in the air, enveloping listeners with patterns of echoes rebounding off the walls.
The work is inspired by Alvin Lucier’s 1968 composition Vespers and investigates human echolocation, aural spatial perception and the physics of sound. Using mobile directional loudspeakers emitting trains of pulses, the trajectories followed by sound waves from source to listener are made apparent. Gradually scanning the room’s boundaries, aural images of the space are formed. Modulating the pulses over time, these images are manipulated and sculpted, giving rise to different spatial forms, textures and densities in which the audience is immersed. Staging forms of interaction that alternate between the two poles of attraction and threat, the piece activates a referential mode of listening rooted in instincts of navigation and survival.
PRESS
Review by Cathy van Eck on Between Air and Electricity
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Serralves, Porto, 2022
Het HEM, Zaandam, 2022
Klankvorm presents Kinetic Sounds, Rotterdam, 2021
Future Flux Festival, Rotterdam, 2016
De Fabriek, Eindhoven, 2016
NCCA, Kaliningrad, 2015
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam, 2015
STUK, Leuven, 2015
Centro Centro, Madrid, 2015
SONM, Murcia, 2015
W139, Amsterdam, 2015
Goldsmith's University, London, 2014
Macao, Milan, 2014
Signal Raum, Munich, 2012
Re-New festival, Copenhagen, 2012
Q-02, Brussels, 2012
Biennial of Contemporary Music, Koper, 2012
Fabbrica Europa, Florence, 2012
Studio Loos, The Hague, 2012
European Media Art Festival, Osnabruk, 2012
Stroom Den Haag, The Hague, 2011
Royal Art Academy, The Hague, 2011
Serralves, Porto, 2022
Het HEM, Zaandam, 2022
Klankvorm presents Kinetic Sounds, Rotterdam, 2021
Future Flux Festival, Rotterdam, 2016
De Fabriek, Eindhoven, 2016
NCCA, Kaliningrad, 2015
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam, 2015
STUK, Leuven, 2015
Centro Centro, Madrid, 2015
SONM, Murcia, 2015
W139, Amsterdam, 2015
Goldsmith's University, London, 2014
Macao, Milan, 2014
Signal Raum, Munich, 2012
Re-New festival, Copenhagen, 2012
Q-02, Brussels, 2012
Biennial of Contemporary Music, Koper, 2012
Fabbrica Europa, Florence, 2012
Studio Loos, The Hague, 2012
European Media Art Festival, Osnabruk, 2012
Stroom Den Haag, The Hague, 2011
Royal Art Academy, The Hague, 2011
CREDITS
Echo Moiré was conceived and developed under the artistic guidance of Edwin van der Heide at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (2009-2011). It was further developed during residencies at Studio Loos (The Hague), STEIM (Amsterdam), Signal Raum (Munich), STUK (Leuven) and De Fabriek (Eindhoven) with financing from Stroom Den Haag and The Performing Arts Fund NL.