SL'Étude is a series of pieces for SecondLife (SL) and a RealLife (RL) performance space capable of sound spatialization.
The RL and the SL space have a very similar layout - see diagram above.
SL is explored in a two directional fashion. It engages the avatars by allowing them to spatialize sounds in RL by positioning specifically designed objects in SL.
I recorded these sounds objects. They are solo saxophone snippets that explore the timbral possibilities of one sound (note) on the saxophone. The idea of this one note exploration was derived after talking to Joan La Barbara In March 08 at the Sonic Arts Research Center about her work entitled “One-Note Internal Resonance Investigation for voice alone” - cool piece, and she left me a copy of the score to have a look at.
What Happens?
For example, if an avatar picks up object 1 he/she will hear the one note exploration linked to that object. The avatar may then place the object closer to one of the loudspeakers in the SL space which will result in sound spatialization in the RL space. The saxophonist in the RL space will then interact with the avatars’ compositional strategies.
What Else?
The RL performer is equipped with LED lights in order to track her gestures while playing. In this way the performer’s movements can be mapped onto a SL avatar or a more abstract representation of a humanoid figure, thus enabling a two way interaction of movement and sounds.
How Far Is This?
We are in the process of setting up the SL space with the objects.
The installation has been up and running on the SARC SL space on the European University Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/European%20University%20II/134/130/27)
since early May 2008.
First Performance?
The first performance tests were carried out at the beginning of June 2008.
The RL space was the Sonic Arts Research Center (SARC) in Belfast, UK.
Here is a short youtube overview of what we did.
Uff. Long Blog, this one.
