Reviewing

Rainforest V Workshop

John Driscoll, Phil Edelstein, Matt Rogalsky

John Driscoll, Phil Edelstein, and Matt Rogalsky will present different perspectives on their work with David Tudor’s Rainforest project including: creation of resonant sculptural loudspeakers, analog and digital synthesis for sound sources, and acoustical modeling of sculptural loudspeakers in software. They will also discuss the impact of Rainforest on their own compositions and installation works.

Rainforest V Workshop / Composers Inside Electronics

Composers Inside Electronics (CIE):
John Driscoll, Phil Edelstein, and Matt Rogalsky
Wed, Jul 6, 3-6pm
FREE

Location:
Harvestworks – www.harvestworks.org
596 Broadway, #602 | New York, NY 10012 | Phone: 212-431-1130
Subway: F/M/D/B Broadway/Lafayette, R Prince, 6 Bleeker

Rainforest V (1973) is an electro-acoustic environment conceived by David Tudor and realized by the group Composers Inside Electronics. Each composer designs and constructs a set of sculptures which function as instrumental loudspeakers under their control, and each independently produces sound material to display their sculptures’ resonant characteristics. The appreciation of Rainforest V depends upon individual exploration, and the audience is invited to move freely among the sculptures.

Three members of Composers Inside Electronics (John Driscoll, Phil Edelstein, and Matt Rogalsky) will present different perspectives on their work with David Tudor’s Rainforest project including: creation of resonant sculptural loudspeakers, analog and digital synthesis for sound sources, and acoustical modeling of sculptural loudspeakers in software.

Demonstrations will include:
• Using audio transducers to drive sound into sculptural objects to create unique resonant loudspeakers
• Audio transformations using chains of objects (including spatial considerations)
• A visual catalog of sculptural objects created for the work
• The application of various vibration microphones (piezo, phono cartridges, throat mics, etc) to amplify the harmonic transformations in the sculptural objects
• Examples of analog/digital sound generation techniques used for Rainforest sound sources and tuning the sound sources to specific objects
• The techniques of acoustic modeling of resonant sculptural loudspeakers (with examples)

This presentation will also address the creative evolution of the Rainforest work as both a performed work and as a self-running installation work including the technological evolution of the work over a 35 yr. time period.

Composers Inside Electronics (CIE) was formed in the mid 1970’s to collaborate with David Tudor on the Rainforest IV project, and to create collaborative electronic performance works. Over the years, these works have involved unique sound generation techniques (neural networks, ultrasonic instruments, resonant sculptural objects, circuit bending, feedback circuits, etc) along with interlocked performance networks, focused loudspeaker research, rotating robotic loudspeakers and digital synthesis.

Leadership support for Meet The Composer’s MetLife Creative Connections program is generously provided by MetLife Foundation. Additional support is provided by The Amphion Foundation, Argosy Foundation Contemporary Music Fund, BMI Foundation, Inc., Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Jerome Foundation, mediaThe foundation, The Experimental Television Center Presentation Funds, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Virgil Thomson Foundation, Ltd.

 

 

John Driscoll

John Driscoll is a composer/sound artist who is a founding member of
Composers Inside Electronics and collaborated on David Tudor’s Rainforest IV project
since its inception in 1973. He has toured extensively in the US and Europe with:
CIE, Douglas Dunn & Dancers, David Tudor, and also as a solo performer. His work
involves robotic instruments, compositions and sound installations for unique
architectural spaces, rotating loudspeakers, and music for dance. In 2014, he was
artist-in-residence at Harvestworks Inc. developing a work for robotic-driven highly
focused speakers, and has recently completed new works for an array of ultrasonic
instruments. He is working on the revival of David Tudor’s Pavilion works in
conjunction with CIE, E.A.T., Wesleyan Univ. and the David Tudor Project. In 2015,
he was the David Tudor Composer-In-Residence at Mills College and is currently
performing Tudor’s original Rainforest work as part of a reconstruction of Merce
Cunningham’s dance RainForest by the Stephen Petronio Company. He is collaborating
with Phil Edelstein and Matt Rogalsky on Rainforest V (a self-running installation
version) with two variations of the work. Rainforest V (variation 1) has been
acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (NY) for their collection and Rainforest V
(variation 2) has been acquired by Museum der Moderne Salzburg for their collection.

Phil Edelstein

Phil Edelstein is a founding member of Composers Inside Electronics
(CIE). CIE projects include Rainforest IV as conceived by David Tudor from 1973, &
with John Driscoll realizations of Rainforest V beginning in Mexico City in 2009.
Works with technology include Impulsions, Shrieks & Nuptials (The Kitchen 2018),
Pepsi Modulator Revisited (Teasing Chaos); Episodes (Arnot), Subject to Change Pepsi
Modulator for 8 Thumbs (Unexpected Territories Berlin); with Tom DeWitt
Philharmonia, the development of Pantomation motion tracking system & with EBA
Called Off, At Once. Tudor/CIE’s Rainforest V is in the collections of MoMA, Museum
der Moderne, Salzburg, Arter, Istanbul, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Lyons, France.
Some projects have included CIE works with Stephen Petronio Dance Company
Bloodlines; sound design for Lyon Opera Ballet realization of Merce Cunningham’s
Exchange with Tudor’s Weatherings. Residencies: Experimental Television Center,
WNET-TV LAB, Center for Music Experiment (with CIE) at UCSD. Other collaborations
include Paper Music (Koprod Zurich) conceived with Cynthia Black. Other experience:
SUNYA, Wesleyan & large-scale commercial systems software architecture &
development.

Matt Rogalsky

Matt Rogalsky will present different perspectives on his work with
David Tudor’s Rainforest project including: creation of resonant sculptural
loudspeakers, analog and digital synthesis for sound sources, and acoustical
modeling of sculptural loudspeakers in software.