Work in progress - Artist-in-Residence at King's College London
Headphones recommended - binaural recording

Weather Systems is a series of exercises in sound treatment using King’s Audio Technology to transform sound unrelated to weather environments into soundscapes we perceive as a weather system i.e. a storm, rain, wind etc… These short exercises give me the chance to explore this spatial sound technology further and get a better idea of its potential within my work. 
For the first exercise I aimed to create “a storm in a teacup” using sampled sound from making tea - a china teacup, a metal spoon, a teabag and hot water. Using the binaural setting of King’s Audio Technology, I positioned the selected samples in a very large, virtual space in different locations around that space, and decided on a direction/trajectory for them to move in that space over the course of 90 seconds. While doing this, I gradually increased the reflectiveness over that time too. The result is a little track that goes from tea- to rain-making, if you use a little imagination. 

The next exercise will involve cat and dog sounds. Will it be raining cats and dogs. It remains to be seen.

A Storm In A Teacup - an exercise in sound treatment and perception

3 paintings as graphic scores
3 first takes
Combined and served as is

Philip

Catherine Kontz (b. 1976) is a London-based composer whose works explore nonlinear form, visual/spatial elements, and musical theatricality.

Recent premieres include Fruitmarket for BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Die Regenmacher for ensemble recherche and Il Floridoro for vocal ensemble Exaudi at Rainy Days/Philharmonie Luxembourg, and the opera Neige at Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, which she both composed and directed. Her chamber opera A Certain Sense of Order - On a poem of Anne Sexton (with Canadian theatre-makers tick tock) is currently on tour.  

She studied piano in her native Luxembourg with Michèle Ries, and in London with John Tilbury. In 2008, she received her doctorate in composition from Goldsmiths, University of London, supervised by Roger Redgate, for her research into Deleuzian theory in relation to mime opera, the cinema of David Lynch, and the Japanese art of Kabuki. This culminated with the groundbreaking music theatre work, MiE, which enjoyed a run of six sold out performances after its première. 

Kontz can also be seen co-fronting avant-pop band French For Cartridge and is one half of experimental duo une cartouche. She likes bright colours, bold clashes, a bit of dissonance and looks to catch a few beautiful moments on her way.

 www.catherinekontz.com

A Storm In A Teacup - an exercise in sound treatment and perception

Catherine Kontz

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