GZ granite head

GRANITE HEAD

Günther Zechberger / Peter Riedlsperger
a musical network of bridges in the context of the Rivers and Bridges project

concert - livebroadcasting (OE1, RNE1) - musical network of bridges
Sept. 5th 1996
at the "Skulpturenfeld Fuchsmoos"
Piller near Wenns / Tyrol / Austria

The direct reference to the "bridge" as a structure is translated by a medial, i.e. theoretical approach in terms of perception.
As far as its semiotic value is concerned, the metaphor of the bridge is not only regarded as a code sample of connection, i.e. positiv, but also as a symbol of separation, for difference, for a borderline.
This approach is committed to the underlying idea of a structural information theory: to recognize the information from the difference.

On the basis of a theoretical relationship between the potential possibilities and those actually used, a small scale language installation is provided for, which can be controlled by the audience. The visitor is enabled to trigger determinable actions through his behavior on the bridge.
The subject of evolution of perception is newly explored by this kind of electronic approach. Thus the notion of conscience being a judge of perception form "inside" and from "outside" is transferred into a technically controlled context; the latter inducing a change from individualistically and hierarchically orientated conceptions of being towards possible interconnected, intersubjective, non-individual conceptions of being.

"Stills" is the start of an online composition project which is supposed to serve as the concept for an online discussion and communication with the regard to the development of new interconnected approaches for the production of music.
In addition to performing the compositions for band, electronic and analog instruments, the Tiroler Ensemble für Neue Musik also acts in place of the audience on the field of sculptures.
The Ensemble plays and at the same time represents the dramatic and sensual elements in the abstract conception of the electronic projects which is conveyed to the audience. A bridge is set up between the musicians on the field of sculptures and the virtual bridges in the network and those broadcasted.

The center of the project is formed by a walkable sculpture, Granite Head, created by Kassian Erhart, which is laid across a brooklet as a bridge.
This bridge is equipped with sound installations by Günther Zechberger to render audible the process of walking on, of crossing a bridge.

The musicians of the ensemble will gradually approach the field of sculptures from the surrounding landscape, finally meeting in the center, i.e. on the granite bridge.
The landscape is reproduced acoustically and the radio broadcastings of this reproduction are transport ways of landscape.

After having reached the center, the musicians spread out on the field of sculptures, get in contact with the sculptures, interact with them, and at the same time approach musicians from Madrid to give a concert together. The bridge is left to the audience who are free to react to the musicians' performance by walking, stomping or dancing.

Not in the background, but on a different musical level elecxtroacoustic music is incorporated into the sound project:
"hear the sky" (by Peter Riedlsperger) and
"electroacoustic songs" (by Günther Zechberger)

"hear the sky" (Peter Riedelsberger): by frequency transformations of the astronomic spectra (CCD recordings) of certain observable objects into sound spectra these objects are rendered audible. Certain frequency distributions in the recorded astronomic objects are made acoustic by linear and non-linear transformation and then turned into sound by defined electroacoustic processing. Using soundprocessing hardware and software the latter is shown in a chronologically unified way or on a virtual and dynamic time axis determined by the distant movement of the objects.

"Stills - electroacoustic songs" (Günther Zechberger): this project is based on a "call for samples" from all over the world. The samples should be the following:

vocalmusic a capella
ad-lib music by children, amateurs, professional singers, vocal ensembles and choirs
with text on different language levels - dialect, slang, standard language, etc. - without text
all kinds of musical styles - in cultural and ethnical respect
AIFF oder SD II format
mono
sample rate: 22050 to 44100
maximum duration: 7 seconds

These are supposed to be acoustic "stills" from all over the world - samples of vocal music sung a capella which form the basic material for an acoustic film - compositions.

further bridges:

interactiv liveconcert with musicians from Spain - Jane Rigler and Rafael Linan - via ISDN on Austrian (ORF) and Spanish (RNE) radio

visual bridge:
Reutte - Fuchsmoos field of sculptures / Piller, via Internet (CuSeeme)

acoustic bridge:
Inn River from the Inn River Bridge in Innsbruck (installations by Andres Bosshart) to the brooklet on the field of sculptures

from August 15 September 7 a symposium on the topic of "Malevich's successor" is scheduled. Two Russian painters, Anna Rezwanova and Jurij Gobanov, and two sculptors from the Tyrolean Ptztal valley, Werner Seidner and Kassian Erhart, have been invited. The granite bridge weighting about 5 tons will be installed during this symposium. On September 7 an exhibition showing works by the two Russian painters will be inaugurated in the gallery of the field of sculptures (open through December 96). In fact, "Granite Head" should also be seen as a bridge pier linking the symposium and the exhibition, Russia and the Tyrol, music and the fine arts.

radio broadcasting: Hans Soukup, Bernhard Triendl (sound engineer)

musical concept, compositions, conductor: Günther Zechberger

Concept: Günther Zechberger, Peter Riedlsperger