Will I Ever Be Able to Sing? A new work for solo cellist Louise McMonagle, using and researching Clectro Notation
With partners Southby Productions and Kings Place, this new work sees Aaron Holloway-Nahum composing a new work for Louise McMonalge that uses d&b Soundscape to spatialise an electronic part – alongside amplified cello – in immersive 360° audio. Entitled 'Will I Ever Be Able to Sing?', this piece uses Clectro notation, created by Charlotte Harding and developed further by Aaron and Charlotte to communicate spatial ideas to a performer and sound engineer in concrete, musical and clear ways.
Researcher: Aaron Holloway-Nahum
Aaron Holloway-Nahum will collaborate with and build upon the work of Charlotte Harding (An Introduction to Clectro Notation: a hybrid notation system for classical and electronic music). The aim is to use and develop this standardised notation system for spatial electronics in electro-acoustic pieces. Specifically in this project, I will take a first step by using this notation in a new piece for solo-cello and electronics that I am writing for Louise McMonagle, to be premiered at Kings Place (Hall Two), making use of their d&b Soundscape System.
d&b Soundscape is an immersive audio technology that uniquely uses delay wavefront propagation algorithms to allow composers and sound designers to precisely localise sounds in 3D space. This system features a second algorithm (called 'en-Space') to create virtual acoustics for those objects that can be mapped and remapped back into the listening environment.
Formal feedback in working with the new notation will be gathered from Louise and experienced Soundscape engineers on the efficiency/effectiveness of this notation, to lay the groundwork for future research. Similarly, formal feedback will be taken of audience members to gauge their experience with the pieces, and to compare this to the intentions of the composers.
Outputs
Aims of this project include:
- The beginnings of a journal paper co-written by Aaron Holloway-Nahum and Charlotte Harding, with input from performer Louise McMonagle, which will detail advances in Clectro Notation achieved through this research and suggest future best practice for composers and audio engineers.
- A new piece for solo cello of 8-12 minutes duration.
- A world premiere of this piece at international venue Kings Place.
- A binaural audio recording of the piece.
Collaborating Organisations
External links
https://www.southby-productions.co.uk/d-b-soundscapes
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/lvra/
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research project has received funding from the Academy, the Hinrichsen Foundation and the Vaughan Williams Foundation.
Main image: Photograph by Matthew Johnson, graphic design by Aaron Holloway-Nahum.
