9
Interactive sound installation 9
The interactive sound installation 9 consists of nine white spheres, each of which represents one of the nine vowels of the Estonian language. Symbolically, the nine spheres are associated with angels, of whom there are nine types in Christian tradition, from angels and archangels to cherubim and seraphim. Sonically, the sound installation of the nine spheres is built on a nine-tone scale, of which one vowel corresponds to each tone. By tilting the spheres, the sustained vowels become discontinuous consonants. The alternation of vowels and consonants is a coding that has a different sound and meaning in each language. Installation 9 is an Estonian language sound game. Dividing 9 into three, one finds a reference to the author's previous project 333.
Presented by Üle Heli festival
At the Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music (ECCM) in Tallinn Old Town (Pühavaimu 9)
Presented by Üle Heli festival
At the Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music (ECCM) in Tallinn Old Town (Pühavaimu 9)
Photos by Maria Aua
Performance 9 spheres at ZhDK
Sounds of the resonant spheres echoing in space.
Unseen and seen sounds.
Unfolding the nine vowels of the Estonian language (A, E, I, O, U, Õ, Ä, Ö, Ü),
each with their own orbits,
gradually opening up.
Photos by ZhDK/Priska Ketterer
Project 9 background
Since finishing album 333 I have been working on project 9. The first performance of it was in 2018 in a tunnel during Tallinn Design Festival.
In this piece I already used 9 vowels of Estonian language and the 9-EDO (equal divisions per octave) scale.
Each of the nine vowels was in a different number system from binary to decimal. The music was based on a Pi number, which defined the rhythm (one to nine notes per beat) and the pitch class in 9-EDO scale.
After the first performance in 2018 I have learned electronic music, microtonal music theory, and programming in Max8. I have been developing and collecting tools to enhance the project. I have also done versions of that with an ambisonic sphere system, with OMax improvising MaxPatch with live visuals and improvised performances over the initial music composed with the number Pi.
During studies in Switzerland I finalised the initial idea, a white sphere, as an interactive installation and a performance piece.
Project 9 is special to me because of my heritage, roots and family. My grandfather was a priest and a mystic and dealt with angels, and when I first had the calling from the angels, I felt a strong connection with my grandfather. I am truly grateful to God for His guidance.
Here is a little review of the initial performance in 2018:
