Live binaural recording of Phases, performed in May 2022 at Espacio Gallery (London). Written in collaboration with Aliayta Foon-Dancoes.

Phases is a 40 minute, five-movement piece for violin that is played across a 12-channel sound system, along with live improvisation. The piece explores musical phasing, with each movement presenting a different idea:

i. Each of the 12 speakers sound a unique note/chord that fades on/off at a different sine frequency. Shifting chords emerge gradually as different pitches come in and out of phase. 

ii. The speakers individually play repeating rhythmic motifs created with extended techniques. Each motif is of a different length, such that rhythmic rearrangement patterns occur over time. 

iii. Speakers individually play repeating melodic phrases of different lengths to create melodic rearrangement patterns. 

iv. Speakers play time-warped versions of the same audio sample to create texturally shifting playback.

v. Speakers play the same note/chord, fading on and off. The timing of the fade is shifted slightly between each speaker such that sound sweeps around the space.

Kai Lab

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