Soundtrap III: Aura Satz’ sound installation Glissolalia :: June 27 – July 20 (Fri-Sun, 12-6pm) :: Preview & Live Performance: June 27; 6-9 pm :: Beaconsfield, London.

In SOUNDTRAP III: GLISSOLALIA, a Beaconsfield Commission 2008, Aura Satz explores ghostly presence and illusions through performance and sound, often focussed on unusual sonic devices, early musical instruments and automata. This new commission explores acoustic illusions and plays on the vocal quality of non-human instruments. It merges the musical concept of ‘glissando’ (the gliding or sliding from one note to another), and the idea of ‘glossolalia’ (religious speaking in tongues, or fluent unintelligible utterances). It is being developed in dialogue with musician Aleks Kolkowski.

The Soundtrap residency with Beaconsfield is in two parts: the initial research and development period provides time and resources to make a score conceived for public installation and performance in the voluminous Upper Space.

The new work, Glissolalia, will be structured by layering a series of test-tone recordings, a musical saw, a theremin and a barbershop quartet. By drawing on such a range of sound sources, references to classic perceptual illusions will degenerate into a more compositional image to create a new paradox. Orchestrated as a dynamic vortex, the resulting recording will play back as a multi-channel soundtrack installation.

This public face of the project will be kicked-off with a spiral sound performance on 27 June, opening a dialogue between installation and live ensemble.

Soundtrap is Beaconsfield’s annual portfolio scheme for new sonic works. Aura Satz is supported by an Artsadmin artist bursary 2005. The artist’s collaboration with Aleks Kolkowski is supported by NAN artists collaborations. Glissolalia received support in kind from Wharfedale.