To hear on Sunday 8 and 15 May 2016, 2pm - 9pm:
RHO
(2016, Premiere)
by Anna Stereopoulou
RHO is presented in the Audio Booth (a fixed loudspeaker installation designed by Knut Remond, based on an idea by Jacob, ohrenhoch-Kids)
Anna Stereopoulou on 'RHO':
Noise = Calming or Masking?
Womb = Safety or Imprisonment?
Obstacle = Restriction or Challenge?
Start = Crickets or Cicadas?
Memory or Dream? Death or Life? Question or Answer?
Multiple, Contrasting Views of the Whole; a Sonic and Verbal Anamorphosis
RHO was composed by Anna Stereopoulou between February and March 2016, as commissioned by 'ohrenhoch, der Geräuschladen' (ohrenhoch, the Noise Shop) Sound Gallery (Berlin-Neukölln, Germany). The Audio Booth, for which the present composition was designed, functions as a simulation of a Womb, while an extra material was requested by the artist, to be added onto the installation. Also, the installation’s structure and speakers’ set-up, motivate the listener to focus on Feeling (vibrations), rather than just Listening. The Listener /Spectator is invited to listen, either inside or outside the booth, and either standing or seated.
The duration of the composition is based on a (repetitive) 20-min Sleep Cycle, whereas its title represents the eternal Flux, heard in the sound of Water traveling to any direction and functioning both as a transmitter and a receiver. Greek liquid consonant letter 'Rho' [/ˈroʊ/; Greek: ῥῶ (polytonic)] enters-and- exits our Ear (German: Ohr).
RHO has an ecological, social-cultural and psychoacoustic character and it is inspired by ancient Asclepeions and the healing power of Water and Dream.
Recorded, Mixed, Produced by Anna Stereopoulou [February-March 2016] [Recording Locations in Greece (Running Water and other sounds)]
• Vyzitsa village, Pelion mountain (Spring in the forest; Cicadas)
• Panagia village, Thassos island (various Springs and Brooks)
• Entrance of the Strait of Nestos river, Galani, Thrace (River; Crickets)
• Bank of Podoniftis river's stream, Patissia, Attica
• Portico of Avaton or Enkoimeterion (dormitory) of the Sanctuary of Asclepius, Ancient Epidaurus (Rain)
• Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus [Tourist guide and visiting Students of American School testing the Acoustics (Clapping in Circle; recitation of William Shakespeare's 'A midsummer-night's dream' (excerpt, Act 3, Scene 2)]
• Sawing of Cardboard box (Balcony in Athenian neighbourhood)
All sounds recorded with a Zoom H2n Digital Audio Recorder
Style: Acousmatic, Dark Ambient, Experimental, Soundscape
Audio Field Report no. 47 / Soundactivism 26: Interview with Anna Stereopoulou by Knut Remond. Limited Edition audio cassette, 8 copies numbered. Available at 'ohrenhoch, der Geräuschladen' (and heard on headphone in the ohrenhoch archive).
Anna Stereopoulou
Composer
Anna Stereopoulou has achieved to combine her music with modern art movements and world cultures, as well as with other Arts and Sciences and has developed a genre she likes describing as «sonic moving images». She specialises in the field of Music Composition for Film & TV, but has also taken on the task of organising and overseeing Audio-Visual /Multi-Media concerts, inspired by researching various subjects.
In Spring 2016, Anna joined No Man’s Land, one of the most renowned Greek psychedelic /progressive rock bands.
Weblog Anna Stereo