Audio capture of a sound installation based on controlled feedback loops between microphones and speakers.  Here 5 microphones and 5 speakers were setup in a circular arrangment, a Max/MSP patch with pitch trackers would then autmatically control band stop filters and re-route the mic inputs to the speakers dynamically to create an immersive, generative soundscape.

Feedback Fiddler

A serialist composition for vibraphone.  All notes of the chromatic scale were dived into four sets, every time a note was used it would be removed from the set.  An algorithmic permutation of the sets formed the rules by which notes could be chosen.  There where no rhythmic restrictions however and the timings and durations of notes were freely selected.

49 Steps

Performed by the Edinburgh University String Orchestra.
Composed (and reimagined) by Henrik Ekeus

Tessellations - Revisited

Variations for String Orchestra - 3rd - Henrik Ekeus

Variation for String Orchestra - Henrik Ekeus

‘One Half Step’ grew out of a systematic study and exploration of difference tones.  Difference tones, also known as combination tones or Tartini tones are a psychoacoustic phenomenon.  When two tones sound simultaneously, a third tone whose frequency is the difference of the two can sometimes be perceived.  For instance when 300Hz and 301Hz sound simultaneously, 1Hz is perceived as ‘beating’ (this is one way to tune strings to the same pitch, adjust till the beating slows completely).  However it is also the case that when 400Hz and 300Hz sound simultaneously, 100Hz can be perceived.

A survey of difference tones was undertaken, and software was written to calculate all the possible difference tones that can be generated from 12 tone equal temperament.  With the power of computation it became possible to go backwards, that is – “Given a target frequency, find a pair of notes in equal temperament whose difference tone is the target frequency”.  I turns out the vast majority of difference tones generated from within equal temperament lie outside equal temperament; i.e. they are microtonal.  It then became clear that difference tones could be used as a kind of psychoacoustic ‘emulator’ of microtones.

One Half Step is an exploration of all the difference tones between middle C and C#.  A sine wave travels through linearly from C to C#, and whenever it approaches a frequency that can be emulated by a pair of notes on the piano, those notes ring, and the sine wave cuts through it.  The resulting output formed the piano score, the dynamics were however intuitively chosen.

This is recording is from a Composers’ Orchestra concert on the 29th November 2007. The pianist is Lewis Forbes and I was the ‘technician’ controlling the amplification and sine wave.


One Half Step

'Still' - String Quartet composed by Henrik Ekeus
Performed by the Edinburgh Quartet

Still - Henrik Ekeus - Edinburgh Quartet

Jam 27th May 2013

Burn the High Street Down

27th May 2013

Trophy Wife

5th July 2014

Salvation Army Blues

Moon Gel are a blues/rock outfit consisting of long-time musical collaborators guitarist/vocalist 'Dr. Baby Biscotti' and drummer Andy. After the breakup of their previous band, Edinburgh swamp blues outfit Dirty Monet, Biscotti went on to front the gourmet electro-punk n' roll group Chateau Greyskull (RIP) and was Jimmy in the ned themed Led Zepp tribute band 'Ned Zeppelin'. Biscotti and Andy's paths crossed again and in September 2010, Moon Gel was born, bringing to London-town a revolutionary new blend of sonic psychedelic lubricant.