|
Dr Antti Saario left LICA in December 2010 Lecturer: Music Technology
|  Antti Saario |
MUSC260 Sound Recording
MUSC340 Special Project / Dissertation
MUSC351 Composition
MA+ PhD Supervision
Acousmatic-, Electroacoustic- and Fixed Media Composition, Aesthetics and their Performativity.
Contemporary Studio Praxis.
My research praxis focuses on fixed media composition, its critical application and performativity. The works map a continuing development of the fixed media aesthetic, related compositional techniques and their creative, and critical, application through an experiential encounter with sound. The works are always referring to their impossibility outside the fixed media domain by highlighting the inherent possibilities, limitations and artefacts of the media. The pieces are further tied together by the shared interest in the exploration and the structural implications of varying notions of sonic time and timeline fragmentation - notions of feedback, replay mechanism, dynamic perspective shifts and memory being integral to the unfolding of the aural discourse. Many of the pieces employ clearly defined structural blocks on all levels of composition with the aim to create a sense of fluidity of form and motion out of these basic building blocks, that can be viewed as Schaefferian objects sonore, on both micro and macro levels. Further connection between block structures and dynamic non-linear unfolding of discourse can be found on the poietic level of the compositional process, where diary and sketchbook work has been a strong influence, both as a praxis, and an area of literary research and inspiration. Through the primacy to the ear mentality as a compositional perspective the composer's focus lies in most part on the corporeal manifestations of sound and its extension - music, with the desire to bring the perceiver closer to the mystical moment of 'now' and thus focus on what is - sound as an experience, space or an existence.
The created spectromorphologies have all been sourced, selected, gathered and processed through an experiential encounter with one's (aural) environment using various fixed media recording and processing devices, both on-location and in studio. This way of interacting with the material and the use of found sound has manifested itself with a strong sense of artisanship in the works, a fusion of the concepts of handmade and readymade. Typically a large number of wide ranging sources have been used in the works to create a solid whole in type of a composition and process that I call many-to-one. The concepts of rhizome and glitch function like a map that can be used to navigate through the created sonic structures and landscapes by illuminating the local paradigmatic axis, and there are no limits to the transformation of possible spaces within the medium when its 'artefacts' or glitches are also the door, lock and key to the portrayed sonic space. For number of years I have been working on collaborative projects with creatives from a wide range of disciplines - application and extension of the fixed-media aesthetic; exploration of processes across media and disciplines; and the deterritorialisation of the concert hall and performance space, being closely in focus. Current works-in-progress are further mapping a line of flight from the pure-acousmatic towards applied-acousmatic praxis, expanding my artistic palette and responsibilities to include visual, theatrical and narrative work across various media.My planned future output will see a return to solo works for fixed media and related extensions; further development of composition as a critical and political tool; introduction of written output on compositional frameworks and methods, and related composer responsibility, with a particular focus on nomadology and dromodology; and development of realtime environment(s) for composer/performer-sound interaction.
ThousandUnfold (2009) [3'], fixed media, in collaboration with Iain Armstrong (Black Country Creative Partnerships).
The Mask Project (2009) [55'], fixed media soundtrack, sound design and live-acousmatics for Olivia Moore lead Manchester Jazz Festival 2009 MJF Originals commission. This multimedia performance was completed in collaboration with Olivia Moore (director), Philip Reeder (composition and live-acousmatics), Stuart McCallum (guitar), John Ball (tabla and santoor), Pete Turner (bass), Adam Warne (percussion), Mark Cameron-Minard (visuals)
o Premiere: Manchester Jazz Festival 2009, The Contact Theatre, Manchester, 27 July 2009
o Further performance at: Manchester Jazz Festival 2009, The Contact Theatre, Manchester, 28 July 2009
Virtuoso (working title) (2008-09) [70+'] fixed media soundtrack to Proto-Type Theater's (www.proto-type.org) production. Composed in collaboration with Martin Iddon as [zygote].Premiere: Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster, 22nd April, 2009Further performances at:o Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster, 23rd April, 2009o Dartington Arts, Totnes, 30th April, 2009o Queer Up North/Greenroom, Manchester, 14th May, 2009o Colchester Art Centre, Colchester, 20th May, 2009
Aboriginal Terraformations (2008), collaborative video work and interdisciplinary research project. Work was done in collaboration with Amanda Newall, Ola Johansson and Stephen Pritchard, and was made possible by funds from FASS, Lancaster University:o Installation and artists panel presentation at New Sciences of Protection: Designing Safe Living, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, 11 July 2008o Curated show:Viewfinder, New Zealand Film Archive, Auckland, New Zealand, 6-20 January 2009o Curated Show (8 weeks): SCANZ, Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, New Zealand, 6 February 2009
Nomadische Luftspiegelung für Eva (2008), for fixed media and accordion. The work was commissioned by contemporary accordionist Eva Zöllner.o World Premiere: Leeds University, 26 April 26 2008. http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/concerts.htmo Other performances: o Jack Hylton Music Room, Lancaster University, Lancaster, 29 April 2008o achtmal alte Brüderkirche, Alte Brüderkirche, Kassel, Germany, 1 June 2008o Laboratorio de Arte Alemada, Mexico City, Mexico, 29 November 2008o Logos Foundation, Gent, Belgium, 29 January 2009o Future performances: o BK Theater, Berlin, Germany, 12 May 2009o University of Aveiro, Portugal, 4 June 2009
proposition 6a: ceci n'est pas une machine de guerre (Refrain) (2008), fixed media, amplified piano, live electronics, ca. 10' (in collaboration with Martin Iddon)o CD release on: Sound Report: The Comfort of Strangers (Sound Network, 2008)o World Premiere: LICA-MANTIS Electroacoustic Music Festival 2008, Great Hall, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, 1 March 2008 o Other performances: o 'The Comfort of Strangers', Sound Network, Futuresonic, Contact Theatre, Manchester, UK, 3 May 2008o Erickson Hall, University of California at San Diego, CA, USA, 1 June 2008>
dead white male (2006-08), fixed media, 49' (in collaboration with Antti Sakari Saario)o Premiere: with Proto-type Theater's About Silence, Forest Fringe, Bristo Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, 17-18 August 2008o Other performance: with Proto-type Theater's About Silence, Battersea Arts Centre, London, UK, 13-15 November 2008o Future performance: with Proto-type Theater's About Silence, Queer Up North, Manchester, UK, 17 May, 2009
Unprepared (2007) a collaborative performance, interactive environment and concept for fixed media, live-electronics (Saario) and keyboards (Stephen Grew). Performances at:o Klab9:Art - Technology, Authorship and Ways of Living, Gregson Centre, Lancaster, 6 October, 2007. https://knowledgelab.org.uk/KLab9 [Info of KLab9]. http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=carnivalofculture [Video clips of the performance]o Yorkshire House, Lancaster, 31 January, 2008.
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWOnEowdgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_z7vXohmno&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FonXgLFS3-8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSpjB1cf7rU&feature=related
Flocking: an improvatorio (2007-present) for voices, string quartet and live-electronics.Operated as a co-researcher in the ACE, PRSF and LCC funded research project into group free improvisation led by Steve Lewis (http://www.deepcabaret.co.uk/deep%20cabaret%20vox/indexvox.htm). Saario was working in collaboration with Dr. David Prior (Dartington College of Arts, UK) on a fixed media live-acousmatics performance system extending and interacting live on both micro- and macro-levels with the free improvising ensemble performing an 'improvatorio' (feat. Four Candle string quartet and voices from Phil Minton, Steve Lewis, Cleveland Watkiss and Beth Allen amongst others). Performances at: o View Two Gallery, Liverpool, UK on 6 September, 2007 (http://www.viewtwogallery.co.uk/)o Site specific performance at Ashton Memorial as part of Lancaster Jazz Festival, 16 October, 2007 (http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX9452-A780BC83). o DVD of the Jazz Festival performance was produced with a 5.1 surround audio recording by Prior, Saario and video artist Jenny McCabe. > Video excerpt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEqtKj9pnms
Making Space: When The Curtain Falls (2007) [21']. An acousmatic play for multichannel playback system and blacked-out space, conceived as part of Nuffield Theatre's Making Space 2007 bursary/mini-residency scheme (http://www.nuffieldtheatre.com/). Text and narrative was created in collaboration with writer and body worker Robert Andrew Penman. o Premiere at Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster, September 2007.o Further performance: Australasian Computer Music Conference ACMC 2008, Sydney, Australia, 11 July 2008>
The Hollywoods: We are Legion - Mixed Reality Jockeying (2007-present). An on-going collaborative crossdisciplinary practice-as-research investigation to mixed reality living, social networks and psychogeographical space as an instrument. Project has been developed in collaboration with visual artist Amanda Newall (LICA) and psychoanalyst/researcher/new media poet Leon Tan (AUT University, Auckland, NZ). The work utilises costume design, on-line and on-location interaction, fixed media work, plunderphonics, found sound and objects, together with theoretical and creative writing, in the creation of non-linear artefacts and interactive environments. Performances, presentations and interventions at: o Association of Internet Researchers (a.i.o.r.) conference Internet Research 8.0: Let's Play, Vancouver, Oct 2007; Physicality 07, Lancaster University, 2 September, 2007 (http://www.physicality.org/physicality2007/)o DAW 07 (Digital Arts Week), Zurich, Switzerland, July, 2007 (http://www.digitalartweeks.ethz.ch/web/)o ISEA 2008 (INsternational Symposium of Electronic Rts), Singapore, 25-30 July, 2008. Audio content and a profile for the Hollywoods can be found at (www.myspace.om/hollywoodsband). >
closed vessel: Ausstrahlung (2007) [1']. Fixed media piece. Forms one of the political vessels conceived in collaboration with Martin Iddon (LICA) as [zygote]. o Broadcast as part of the NYC 60x60, New York, USA, 2007
Pilgrim Sunrise, Pagan Sunset (2007) for unspecified forces and fire.o Performed in California, USA by April Guthrie (Cello) and Cassia Streb (Viola) as part of the Guthrie & Streb Summer 2007 Extravaganza www.gutrhieandstreb.com
Frames for One (2004-07). Multi-output collaborative interdisciplinary project with Gitte Bastiansen (dance/choreography) and Olaf Knarvik (photo/cinematography). Main output of the work is digital video set to an original fixed media soundtrack. The work also exists and operates as a series of installations, gallery shows, dance events and performance concept, and so far has been featured as follows:o Frames for One (Soundtrack) aka Mr.Tango - Mirage (Soundtrack) [8'] is available online at: Radio Papesse, Palazzo Delle Papessa - Centro Arte Contemporanea, Italy. www.radiopapesse.org/w2d3/v3/view/radiopapesse/notizie--1214/index.html?area=8, and at www.myspace.com/anttisaarioo Projection #2 (2005) [5']. Performance at PrØverummet BIT-Teatergarasjen.o Projection #1 (2005) [4'] Performance at WRAP art centre (www.hdu.no), Bergen, Norway. o Mr.Tango - the Trailer (2004) [2'] Performance at PrØverummet BIT-Teatergarasjen.>
Tok Tok#2 (2006) [+60']. Collaborative performance-cum-installation with Amanda Newall (LICA) and Phil Dadson (www.sonicsfromscratch.nz). o Premiered at the Nuffield Theater, Lancaster, UK on 6 June, 2006.
Europa; Woman (2006) [+60']. Fixed media composition and sound design for Karen Foss Quiet Works dance company's production. o Premiered at BIT-Teatergarasjen (Bergen Internasjonal Teater [www.bit-teatergarasjen.no]) on 8-9th of February, 2006, Bergen, Norwayo Further performances at: TOUSCENE, Stavanger, Norway on 23-24 February, 2006o Black Box Teater (www.blackbox.no) in Oslo, Norway on 9-12 March, 2006>
quiet,red (2004) [+60']. Fixed media composition and sound design for Karen Foss Quiet Works dance company's production. o Premiered at the Black Box Teater, 29 April, 2004o Further performances at the BIT-Teatergarasjen on 12-13 May, 2005>
Bullet Train Ballad no.1 (2002) [7']. Fixed media composition.Competitions: o 1st prize absolute for "electro-acoustic, analogical and digital music" section of the IV International Contemporary Music Contest "Città di Udine" competition 2002 (1500 euros, public performance and realization of a CD of the concert), Udine, Italy.o Finalist in Bourges 2003 TRIVIUM A - Degre II Studio Category.CD releases on Contemporanea 2002 : Interensemble Udine: Taukay (Taukay123), 2002 and Yachtclub vol.1 - Alkumeri Helsinki: Yachtclub (Yacht001), 2003. Concert performances at: o North - South 2007, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester University, 2007o St Peter's, University of Central Lancashire, 2006o CBSO-Centre, Birmingham, 2003, Teatro San Giorno, Udine, 2002Future performances:o ICMC 2009, Montreal, Canada, 16-21 Aug, 2009Broadcast by Cornerhouse: Art Radio (106.5FM), as part of the Sound Network series, Manchester in 7 July, 2007. http://soundnetwork.omweb.org/.Broadcasts and streams as part of the Epsilonia Radiophonic 20th Anniversary Festival, 4 May and 25 May, 2006, and Agricola de Cologne [R][R][F] 2004 in: o National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucaresto Bangkok New Media Art Festival, MAF04o digital easter eggs, streaming day, Berlin, 104.1MHZo Version>04 Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicagoo Basics Festival, Salzburgo PEAM 2004, Pescarao VI Salon Y Coloquio Internacional De Arte Digital, Havannao International Festival of New Film and New Media, Splito Public Space Festival, Yerewano West Coast Numusic & Electronic Art Festival, Stavangero Biennale for Electronic Art, PerthInstallations:o Futuresonic: Sound Network at Victoria Baths, Manchester, 11-13 May 2007 [headphone]o Soundwaves Festival 2007, Brighton, June 2007 The work is available online with an accompanying artistic statement at: www.radiopapesse.org/w2d3/v3/view/radiopapesse/notizie--1214/index.html?area=8 andwww.myspace.com/anttisaario.>
Crystal Man (2002) [1']. Fixed media composition - remix. o Released on Bottoms Up Limited Edition CD featuring 51 electroacoustic composers remixing the work of Professor Jonty Harrison.>
Portrait Concrète: Jo Hamilton in fixed media [ 21'36" x 44.1 kHz/s x 16bit] (2001) [21'36"]. Fixed media composition. o Concert performance at CBSO-Centre,Birmingham, 2003o Pre-selected for the 2005 Concours Phonuriga Nova in the Radiophonic categoryo Broadcast by Cornerhouse: Artradio, Manchester in 2007o Sound installation at Soundwaves Festival 2007, Brighton, June 2007>
G&T Swimmers (2001) [11']. Fixed media composition commissioned by Aldeburgh Festival. Released on Viewpoint 'Works from BEAST - vol.3'. London: Sargasso Records (SCD28407), 2003 o Installations with BEAST at:o CBSO-Center, Birmingham, 2002o Fringe : Aldeburgh Festival Aldeburgh Beach, 2001o Broadcast as part of Viewpoints by Deutschlandradio's 'Studio für akustische Kunst' in September 2002, Berlin, Germany>
Boom Boom Boom (BudDub mix), Remix with Iain Armstrong (2001) [9']. Featuring Jo Hamilton. Original track produced by Jon Cotton. o Released on the The St Dunstan's Experiment CD, Birmingham and performed at The St Dunstan's Experiment, St Dunstan's Church, Birmingham on January 2002.>
Invisible Tattoos (2000) [25']. Fixed media composition.Concert performances at:o UNM - Young Nordic Music Festival, Aarhus, 2001o CBSO-Centre, Birmingham, 2001Installations at:o Soundwaves Festival 2007, Brighton, June 2007o NUART 2004, Tollboden - the old customs House, Stavanger, 2004o AUTOGRAPH : Invisible Tattoos, WRAP culture house, Bergen, 2003Streamed as part of:o bek_international on SoundLab Channel, a joint venture by ConcertHall at Media Centre, La Musee di -visioniste and [R][R][F]2004, Biennale for Electronic Arts, Perth, 2004Broadcast on:o Inner Space, Zagreb, 100.5FM
nausea (1999) [17']. Fixed media composition. Concert performances at:o Inventionen 2000: Berlin festival of new music, Berlin, 2000 o Aural Kinetics : New fusion of sound space and movement, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham, 2000o 33rd RMA Research students conference, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, 2000o Whispers and Waveforms festival, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, 1999>
B-Side (1998) [ 3']. Fixed media composition.Released on:o Spike 'Works from BEAST - vol.1'.London: Sargasso Records (SCD28034), 2000 o Presence II. Montreal: PeP, 2000. Concert performances at:o Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham, 2003o Transparent Theatre, Berkley, 2002 o Musiques & Recherches VIIIe Festival Acousmatique International ,,L'Espace du Son>>, Theatre Marni, Brusselso SonicArtsNetwork Conference, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 2001o Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham, 2000o EuCue-XIX Series, Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, Montreal, 1999 o The Anvil theatre, Basingstoke, 1999 o EuCue XVII series, Salle de Concert Concordia, Montreal, 1998Broadcasts and Streamcasts:o As part of Agricola de Cologne [R][R][F] 2004 at:o National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucaresto Bangkok New Media Art Festival, MAF04 o digital easter eggs, streaming day, Berlin, 104.1MHZ o Version>04 Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago o Basics Festival, Salzburg o PEAM 2004, Pescara o VI Salon Y Coloquio Internacional De Arte Digital, Havannao International Festival of New Film and New Media, Splito Public Space Festival, Yerewan o West Coast Numusic & Electronic Art Festival, Stavangero Biennale for Electronic Art, Pertho Sonic Arts Network radio show Big Ears on Resonance FM 104.4 FM on 25th of October 2005o Mappings, Antenna Internet Radio, 2001 o Birmingham University Radio, Birmingham, 2000The work is available online with an accompanying artistic statement at: www.radiopapesse.org/w2d3/v3/view/radiopapesse/notizie--1214/index.html?area=8 andwww.myspace.com/anttisaario.>
Kuollut Radio (1998) [4']. Fixed media composition.o Produced to form a part of LMC commissioned Ways of Hearing by D.Prior, D.McKinnon, I.Chuprun and A.Saario, for John Peel Festival, London, 1998.>
Soft Lies, Soft Icons (1997-8) [12']. Fixed media composition. o Concert performances at: o Zeppelin 2005 - Acoustic of Control, Barcelona, Spain, 2005o SonicArtsNetwork conference, St.Paul's Hall, Huddersfield, 1999o Murmurs festival, The Crescent Theatre, Brindley Place, Birminghamo Deus ex Machina: Edgar Varese memorial concert, McGill University, Montreal, 1998Soft lies, Soft icons was in the7th place in the Prix Scrime acousmatic composition competition, Bordeaux, France in 1998.
Exposed (2009-10) in collaboration with Iain Armstrong (www.iainarmstrong.net).
Exposed is an installation-cum-performance of live composition that seeks to reveal the processes of fixed media composition whilst unfolding a sonic narrative based on the sounds of the Expo 2010. The work situates itself and draws from the cracks between improvisation, composition and situationist performance art. Site- and event-specificity and sonic documentary meet radiophonic and post-acousmatic processes in this organically structured work. The two composers/sound artists engage directly with the sound world encompassing Expo 2010; performances, performers, ambiences, conversations, observers and interviews are gathered through a myriad of recording actions. In direct response to this source material, incidental and accidental shapes, forms and motifs collide to create the sonic canvas, paint and subject of the work; expression through the act of exposure.
Interzone(s) (2009-11), fixed media, CD length, in collaboration with Felipe Otondo (LICA). The work investigates the contemporary interdisciplinary relevance of Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs whilst celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Broken Legends (2009-10), fixed media. An electroacoustic composition forming the part of a fixed media song cycle Unmöclighe Lieder: Songs from the Incubator.
>
Complicity Simplex (2009-10), accordion, double bass, and fixed media, in collaboration with Martin Iddon as [zygote], commissioned by Eva Zöllner.
Umbra Sumus (2009-10), fixed media, CD length, in collaboration with Martin Iddon as [zygote].
Faciality: Double Articulation (2007-2010), video artefact and multimedia installation, in collaboration with Martin Iddon as [zygote].