Radio-orchestra workshop/concert

|Abstract|
#) Radio Hacking
The radio has a history as a musical instrument spanning the decades since John Cage discovered its unpredictable noises as a source for chance operations. In this workshop we will look at the insides of portable transistor radios and find out if we can further develop the possibilities of the radio as a musical instrument. Instead of thinking of it as a passive machine for receiving radio programs we will use very simple techniques to change the electronic circuits of the radio into a fascinating noise making instrument. Everybody will be able to use their own individually modified radio as a musical instrument in the second part of the workshop.
#) Radio Orchestra
A Conducted improvisation. The goal of the workshop is the formation of an orchestra of electronic musicians and to perform live on the last day of the workshop. We will explore many possibilities of using the modified radios as a collective sound instrument for improvised music making. The workshop will introduce different techniques of conducting the group with all the participants being encouraged to bring in ideas for pieces and to experience conducting the group. There will also be an access to several mini radio transmitters which allow for the synchronization of the radios.
|Outcome|
A musical performance of the workshop participants using modified radios as instruments.
|Participants profile|
The participants should be keen to dismantle radios and take part in a collective musical performance. No prior musical or electronics knowledge is needed. Everyone can turn up to the workshop, not just technical whizz kids or programmers. This way we bring everyone together - the technological 'haves' and 'have-nots', so to speak. The participants should be able to take part in all workshop sessions.
Max 15 participants.
|Day 1-5|
Radio hacking, Radios as instruments, Conduction techniques for ensemble performance, Performance structures for Radio Orchestra
Rehearsals and evening performance at 8PM
|Language|
English
|To bring along|
Each participant should bring a working, battery powered, portable transistor radio (older models are preferable, tuning dial is essential) that can be taken apart and modified. We will provide the tools and components for the modification plus a limited number of radios to replace unusable or broken ones. They could also be pre-1980s radios. They just should not be too modern, as the circuitry is more restrictive and therefore boring... Any junk shop or flea market usually has plenty of these. You could find one in an attic or garage of a relative. Having more of them is the key, as some work better than others.
|Sarah Washington|
is an instrument-builder, improvising musician and radio artist who works all over Europe on varied projects. She helped to set up the radio station Resonance104.4fm in London and has been commissioned to make a series of radio works for the Tate Modern.
http://mobile-radio.net
|Knut Aufermann|
is a musician and radio artist working across Europe. He is a member of the London Improvisers Orchestra and co-founder of the european radio art network Radia. Together with Sarah Washington he performs in the radio feedback and circuit bending duo Tonic Train.
http://knut.klingt.org
|Helpful links|
http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk/books/DisplayBookInfo.php?ISBN=0415975921
http://www.anti-theory.com/soundart/circuitbend/
http://www.makezine.com/


Participants:
Daniel Door[de], Guenther Gessert[at], Heike Siegert[de], Jordi Sanchez Puig[es], Judith Egger[de], Jakob Doering[de], Kruno Jost[hr], Michael Kurz[de], Martin Krejci[de],

Kindly supported by Kulturreferat der Landeshauptstadt München