Meier, Robin, Dey, Nirmalaya, Ott, Christine and Feugère, Lionel ORCID: 0000-0003-0883-5224 (2021) Truce. [Creative Performance or Reading]

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Abstract

The latter part of the evening features the musical performance Truce by Robin Meier. To find a mate of the right species, male and female mosquitoes rely on their ability to "sing" in tune. Mosquitoes adjust the sound of the buzzing they produce to synchronize the wingbeats between males and females, allowing for harmonized buzzing and copulation in mid-air. Truce uses the natural synchronization behavior of mosquitoes to coax them into creating music.
In this "concertante" adaptation of the installation Truce (Robin Meier & Ali Momeni, 2009), a Dhrupad singer, a traditional classical song from northern India, sings a slow glissando supported by low, etheric vibrations of ondes Martenot. Stimulated by the singer's voice and the frequencies of the waves, three mosquitoes independently tune their buzzing to these sounds. Activated by the buzzing, a computer generates three distinct electronic voices, reproducing the tone of each mosquito. These three electronic voices enter punctually in harmony with each other, depending on the insects' ability to remain in synchronization with the sound stimulus.
Together, insects, humans and machines compose a song of an inter-species alliance.
Truce
Robin Meier: composition
Nirmalya Dey: song
Christine Ott: instruments (Ondes Martenot)
Lionel Feugère (University of Greenwich): Mosquito preparation and scientific advisor.
With the support of Pro Helvetia, Fondation suisse pour la culture. Thanks to Laurent Dumas from Groupe Emerige, Mylène Weill, Gabriella Gibson, Lionel Feugère, and Ali Momeni
Organization
Jean-Max Colard and Joséphine Huppert, Centre Pompidou
Nicolas Donin, IRCAM-STMS

Item Type:	Creative Performance or Reading
Uncontrolled Keywords:	truce, mosquitoes, inter-species performance
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences M Music and Books on Music > M Music Q Science > QL Zoology
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Pest Behaviour Research Group
Related URLs:	Organisation Organisation Organisation
Last Modified:	23 May 2022 09:17
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/34436

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