‘Inner Resonance’ is an acousmatic composition that using the bass clarinet and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance data as its only two sources of sound. Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance data is normally used for structure elucidation of molecules and other chemical compounds, but can be turned into sound using molecular sonification methodologies.

More information: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/portfolio-of-original-compositions%28ce8b7834-cfae-4f8e-8689-05984390a33c%29.html
The title of the piece alludes to the physical phenomenon of resonance, in which an external force can only excite an oscillation in another system, if the outside force is ‘in tune’ with the oscillating system. Figuratively, ‘Inner Resonance’ is an attempt to find these places of ‘mutual resonance’ between the instrumental and chemical world, by exploring the interplay of gestures and textures derived from the bass clarinet and solid state data. The compositions aims to explore how both sound worlds can modify, support and contrast each other.

Inner Resonance - Falk Morawitz

„The people of each generation perceive the state of the ecosystems they encountered in their childhood as normal and natural. When wildlife is depleted, we might notice the loss, but we are unaware that the baseline by which we judge the decline is in fact a state of extreme depletion. […] Few people younger than me know that it was once normal to see fields white with mushrooms, or rivers black with eels at the autumn equinox, or that every patch of nettles was once reamed by caterpillars. I can picture a moment at which the birds stop singing, and people wake up and make breakfast and go to work without noticing that anything has changed.” – George Monbiot

On the Extinction of a Species: Dream Machine

Finland, as experienced by the Sea utilises sonified infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance and oceanographic data as sound sources, combined with field recordings taken on Örö Island, a small uninhabited island in the south-west of Finland. The structure of the piece arises by mapping the changes in pollution concentrations in the Baltic sea from 1960 to 2010 to different sound reproduction parameters, resulting in a data-driven eight-minute acousmatic composition.

More information: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/portfolio-of-original-compositions%28ce8b7834-cfae-4f8e-8689-05984390a33c%29.html

Finland As Experienced By The Sea (2017)

On the Extinction of a Species is a 23-minute 7.1-multichannel music composition. The piece combines an acousmatic sound world with voice narration to tell the story of the extinction of the passenger pigeon.

The topic of the composition, the eradication of four billion pigeons in the late 19th century, is a cautionary tale: even if the actions of an individual person seem negligible, the collective impact of these actions are enormous. Examining the public mindset surrounding the extinction of the passenger pigeon show striking similarities with the treatment of current and pressing global environmental issues such as global warming, the plastic pollution epidemic and the ongoing mass extinction of species. The unwillingness to acknowledge and act upon the impact of our own actions seems to be just as prevalent now as it was in the 1890s. Presenting a music piece concerned with the mass extinction of the passenger pigeon is therefore not only about a tale of the past, but a reminder of the environmental impact of our own actions.

More info: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/portfolio-of-original-compositions%28ce8b7834-cfae-4f8e-8689-05984390a33c%29.html

On the Extinction of a Species (stereo version) (2018)

56Fe is a nine-minute acousmatic composition that uses sound recordings of steam vents, struck metal, and working machinery to evoke links to the Industrial Revolution and to invite the listener to ponder their relationship with their industrialised environment. Besides sound recordings, the composition uses sounds created from the sonification of electron orbital energy data for water and iron. 56Fe was first shown as a sound art installation in London in July 2018 and later adapted for a concert hall setting.

56Fe (2018)

On the Extinction of a Species is a 23-minute 7.1-multichannel music composition. The piece combines an acousmatic sound world with voice narration to tell the story of the extinction of the passenger pigeon.

The topic of the composition, the eradication of four billion pigeons in the late 19th century, is a cautionary tale: even if the actions of an individual person seem negligible, the collective impact of these actions are enormous. Examining the public mindset surrounding the extinction of the passenger pigeon show striking similarities with the treatment of current and pressing global environmental issues such as global warming, the plastic pollution epidemic and the ongoing mass extinction of species. The unwillingness to acknowledge and act upon the impact of our own actions seems to be just as prevalent now as it was in the 1890s. Presenting a music piece concerned with the mass extinction of the passenger pigeon is therefore not only about a tale of the past, but a reminder of the environmental impact of our own actions.

On The Extinction Of A Species (3 Act Version)- Falk Morawitz

Electroacoustic Composer

contact: falkyx7@gmail.com

I am currently working on the use of molecular sonification as a new method in electroacoustic and sound scape composition as well as site-specific sound works that invite the listener to reflect on the state of our surrounding and the environment.

Tracks by Falk Morawitz