In the field of artistic research, this project relates to many projects as it explores major topics like improvisation, sound formats, listening or how to convey a physical experience in a digital format. Before starting this project, my goal was to participate in several artistic research seminars to gain more insight into other projects and artists. But this was not possible due to paternity leave and corona restrictions. I therefore look forward to participating and expanding my horizons in this regard, and will now describe some of the projects I found online and was directly influenced by. I will present them as concisely as possible, and encourage you to use the hyperlink to read further:
Torben Snekkestad: The Poetics of a Multiphonic Landscape:
An artistic research project undertaken by The National Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowship Program (2012-2016). Snekkestad is also a reed player, and explores the artistic potentials in approaching his primarily monophonic instrument, as a source of creating solo works that are multiphonic. Snekkestad’s research systematically shows which artistic potentials, methods and personal achievements lie in this approach. The project has thus been both a close and overall source of inspiration in this project.
Ivar Grydeland, Morten Qvenild, Andrea Neumann & Sidsel Endresen: Goodbye Intuition:
An artistic research project undertaken by The Norwegian Academy of Music (2017-2020). These improvisers explore the outcomes of improvising with a "creative machine". The project has many interesting and relevant similarities to my project. Especially the "reflection texts", which have given me inspiring perspectives on what improvisation is, and words for how we as improvisers can articulate our field. An example could be Sidsel Endresen’s reflection: "Improvisation represents for me the possibility of being surprised – of surprising myself – and of having my musical behavior, aesthetics and habits challenged". This type of input is valuable for me in this project, because it draws attention to which qualities are important as an improviser. When playing and developing a solo setup it is especially valuable to investigate, raise awareness and discuss which parameters are important for a successful improvisation, subjectively seen.
Salome Voegelin, Anna Barney, Mark P Wright, Phoebe Stubbs: Listening Across Disciplines:
This is an ongoing research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which systematically investigates the potential of listening as a legitimate and reliable methodology for research across the arts and humanities, science, social science and technology. It is a project I recently learned about through RMC, and it immediately gave me new knowledge, perspectives and ideas about how we can use listening as a musical tool and method for transdisciplinary innovation. This is relatable to my investigations and reflections on resonance in a social perspective, which will be described in the next section.
Gunhild Mathea Husvik-Olaussen: Responsivt Rom – en lytting inn i materialitet:
Artistic research project undertaken by The Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College in Fredrikstad (2014-2020). Husvik-Olaussen is a Norwegian set and sound designer, who has completed a large-scale artistic research project, which shares the same technological approach as my project. While creating this final exposition and research catalogue, Husvik-Olaussen uploaded hers, which has many similarities with my studies and something I had been searching for. I will now shortly present some of her approaches and results, and relate them to mine.
The artistic expression in Husvik-Olaussen’s work is, in her own words: "Sculptural installations that work between visual, performing and sound art". Our individual approaches to express ourselves are different: I have primarily focused on the artistic potentials in a live interplay between the sounding objects and me, whereas Husvik-Olaussen has mainly focused on creating a sculptural composition. In her work “Resonans” she also incorporated live improvisation, as musicians were asked to improvise within a specific frame, where I have not been interested in having a compositional concept nor inviting other musicians to participate in the project. I am very inspired by the way Husvik-Olaussen has managed to awaken the visitors’ curiosity by creating works that balance impressions of sound, form and material at the same time.
In terms of our works, our natural approaches come forward; Husvik-Olassen equates the visual and sonic output to one expression from the beginning of her process, where I have focused on the music and how the visual sides can expand that.
Other inspirations:
This list includes some of the inspirations I have had during this specific project. Some has been major influences and others have contributed to a string of thoughts and ideas.
Books:
Det unkontrollerbare - Hartmut Rosa (Eksistensen 2020)
Resonance - Hartmut Rosa (Polity Press 2019)
Theory U - Otto Scharmer (Berrett-Koehler 2016)
Egne veje – Udvikling af en skabende musikpædagogik - Antologi (Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium 2018)
Alfabet - Inger Christensen (Gyldendahl 2016)
Viden og visdom – Dorthe Jørgensen (Det lille forlag 2002)
Med Gud i den ene hånd og tvivlen i den anden - Kirsten Jacobsen (Politikens Forlag 2020)
Hvorfor skriver jeg? - Karl Ove Knausgård (Lindhardt og Ringhof 2019)
Udsat på hjertets bjerge - Rainer Marie Rilke (Gyldendal 1998)
Fragmenter af en dagbog - Paul La Cour (Gyldendahl 2020)
Kulttur - Peter Laugesen (Gyldendahl 1990)
This Brutal World - Peter Chadwick (2019 Phaidon)
John Cage - Silence
Readings:
The Resonance of resonance - Simon Susen (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10767-019-9313-6#Sec1 2019)
Bill Viola: People thougt I was an idiot and that video would never last (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/may/23/bill-viola-video-artist-interview-tate-modern-st-pauls-cathedral)
Four levels of listeing - Otto Scharmer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxvQUVxVV68)
Evan Parker on John Coltrane (http://www.pointofdeparture.org/PoD9/PoD9EvanParker.html)
The Experience of Immanent Transendence - Dorthe Jørgensen (Nordic Journal of Religion and the Arts, Nr. 2010-11, 2011, s. 35-52)
Til Kierkegaards forståelse af prædikenens kategori - Preben Ulstrup (https://tidsskrift.dk/kierkegaardiana/article/view/31320/28793)
Music:
Eight Electronic Pieces - Tod Dockstader (1968 Folkways Records)
In Doubt We Trust - The International Nothing (2017 Ffattari)
Selva Oscura - William Basinsky & Lawrence English (2018 Musex International)
Silent Night - William Basinsky (2004 2062)
Sea Island - Loscil (2014 Kranky)
Sounding Lines - Moritz Von Oswald Trio (2015 Honest Jon's Records)
Agora - Fennesz (2019 Touch)
Two - Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto (2019 Noton)
Echoes from Rudolph's - John Carter (1977 Ibedon Records)
Prime Float / Unitary Perfect - Anders Vestergaard (2020 Anyines)
Sólaris - Ben Frost & Daniel Bjarnason (2011 Bedroom Community)
Ecstatic Embrace - Jesper Zeuthen, Jacob Anderskov, Anders Vestergaard (2020 Ilk)
Blue Reminder - Chihey Hatakeyama (2018 Constellation Tatsu)
Sun Ship - John Coltrane (1966 Verve)
The Weight of Light - Benoît Delbecq (https://vimeo.com/484796833?fbclid=IwAR215bdH_0WHLwl4V7dvq3haeq5fQTzf5y8LRLRYcBe75wKyZcddzjeojak)
Dewey Time - Daniel K Berman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rhIr1-ygBo)
Portait in Black & White - Dewey Redman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQbXCTdEEC4)
Body and Soul - Coleman Hawkins (1939 - Bluebird)
New History of Warfare - Colin Stetson (2008 - Colin Stetson)
Saxophone Solos - Evan Parker (1975 Incus Records)
What If / They Both / Could Fly - Evan Parker & Joe McPhee (2012 - Rune Grammofon)
A Launeddas - Efisio Melis (2010 Frorias)
Black Star - David Bowie (2016 ISO+Sony)
Fachwerk / Silenzio - Sofia Gubaidulina (2011 Naxos)
For Samuel Beckett – Morton Feldman (Ensemble Modern)
Carl Nielsen - Pan og Syrinx among other works.
Thomas Laub – Danish Folklore song.
Tenor saxophone player Coleman Hawkins
Reed player and composer Eric Dolphy
Reed player and composer Yusef Lateef
Reed player and composer Dewey Redman
Reed player and composer Colin Stetson
Clarinetist John Carter
Saxophonist Evan Parker
Percussionist and composer Sven-Aake Johansson
Saxophonist Peter Brötzmann
Gnawa from Morocco (tapes with no titles bought from locals)
Music of the Bibayak Pygmies
Sardinian folk musician Efisio Melis
Danish composer Else Marie Pade
French composer Eliane Radigue
Pianist and composer Per Henrik Wallin
Sound / art related:
Samson Young
Leandre Brass
Laurie Andersson
James Turell
Dan Graham
Olafur Eliasson
Bill Viola
Sergei Tcherepnin
Jonah Freeman & Justin Love
Jacob Kirkegaard
Tuomas Fränti
Adriano Abbado
Haroon Mirzka
Florian Hecker
Cory Smythe
Camille Norment
Susan Philipsz
Christine Sun Kim