Bahamut II. for Tenor Saxophone, Piano, and Percussion

Performed by members of ensemble dal niente:
Ryan Muncy, Mabel Kwan, and Christopher Jones
July 12, 2013


Commissioned by The Walden School, 2013

Bahamut II.

Jörmungandr is an eight-channel interactive sound installation exploring the dynamics of interconnected systems. At its core, Jörmungandr is a matrix of homemade delay modules, connected to each other but with no external audio input. Each module delays and slightly amplifies every incoming signal, and the routing between each module is determined algorithmically over time by software. 

The delay time of each module is the only other independent variable of Jörmungandr. Delay times are determined by the position of rotary knobs in front of each speaker with which audience members may interact. The combination of delay and amplification in the system means that when a feedback loop is created, any small electrical inconsistency between the modules or digital artifact from the circuit is amplified until audible, moving back and forth through the loop as it is delayed in each iteration. Even with no delay time changes, the sound continues to evolve through time, as the system routing is in constant flux. 

The variable nature of the system results in a sonic bed that emerges unpredictably through the installation space in waves--sometimes at a slow gurgle, sometimes as a wash of noise, sometimes almost, but never quite, exploding. 

A short recording done Friday, July 19 during a high-activity period in the installation space. Many delay-time changes can be heard in this recording as the audience interacts with the controls for each channel. Recorded at The Walden School in Dublin, NH. All tracks have been mixed down to stereo from the original 8-channel recordings

Jormungandr - 1D

Performed by Dr. Zizmor (Ian Munro and Aliza Simons) on homemade instruments.
November 18, 2012 at The Kaufman Center, NYC

Dr. Zizmor - Fast Switches

Performed by The Sweat Lodge - May 27, 2012

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