ECHOES: Discrete Ensemble

Discrete Ensemble by Sam Barker and Kay Sievers will be presented in the renowned acoustic environment of Hamilton Mausoleum.

ECHOES is a collaborative programme of events arranged by GLOSS, Scott Myles and Thinking Culture as part of an ongoing response to Instrument for the People of Glasgow.

DISCRETE ENSEMBLE
INSTALLATION FOR 8 AUTOMATED ACOUSTIC STRING INSTRUMENTS

SAM BARKER & KAY SIEVERS

Discrete Ensemble is a living sound sculpture where every step transforms the music, creating immersive sonic environments in collective spaces. Challenging the traditional placement for string ensembles, these mechanical devices are distributed as widely as possible throughout a venue, facilitating audience interaction and the exploration of spatial parameters and psychoacoustic effects. The semi-generative nature of the composition allows for continuous performance with little intervention.

Discrete Ensemble was first presented in August 2024 at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

THE INSTRUMENT: VIOLA-1

Discrete Ensemble is built around a set of eight MIDI-controlled mechanical string instruments, designed and fabricated by Kay Sievers. Viola-1 is an intriguing object to observe in action, with its single string acted on by a rotating circular ‘bow’, and moving ‘finger’. They can be considered both custom musical instruments, and kinetic sculptures, reimagining the visual vocabulary of the traditional namesake instrument.

PERCEPTION AND CONTEXT

The broad distribution of sound sources throughout a space, and a visitor’s ability to explore freely, asserts an interactive element to the composition. There is no defined ‘sweet spot’, as each individual experiences a different balance of sounds depending on their location. The compositional structure is thus defined by the route and speed at which the space is navigated, and is unique to each visitor, as their physical movement modulates the balance of sounds being heard.

A novel consequence of the installation’s wide distribution, is the opportunity to isolate the individual elements through proximity. With each instrument playing a different tone, the listener is invited to explore inside of the sonic body, revealing the component parts and their context in relation to adjacent harmonics.

Aside from the auditory experience, a number of conceptual themes are brought into discussion, from the automation of human activities, to collective vs. individual dynamics, and the importance of context in our perspectives and interpretations.

KAY SIEVERS / VERSIO DUO

Kay Sievers is a Berlin-based programmer, engineer, and designer recognized for his pioneering contributions to Linux. Beyond open-source infrastructure, in the past years Sievers has been creating mechanical instruments and interfaces under the name Versio Duo, merging technical precision with kinetic sculpture and sound innovation. His background in systems engineering and experimental design underpins the technical and artistic foundations of the Discrete Ensemble.

Discrete Ensemble Technical Support / Installation Technician: Mihály Podobni