Syrinx is a multi-channel sound installation named for the avian vocal organ. The piece is made from multiple layers of the various time-expanded and time-compressed permutations of birdsong and the human interpretation of it.
Artist Statement
I made this piece at a time when I was fascinated with time-compression and expansion of voice, and I often present it as a part of a sonic suite called Timepiece Triptych, which explores time-related processing on vocally produced sounds.
To create this work, I took what sounded like a short and simple birdsong and slowed it down numerous times in Pro Tools until it’s individual pitches and complex melodic material were revealed. I then learned to sing the melody and sped my voice up until it was the same length and pitch as the original birdsong.
The piece is made from multiple layers of the various permutations of the birdsong and the human interpretation of it. I originally created a four-channel version for an exhibition called “Sound Migrations” at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles (2004), and later re-edited it as an 8-channel (plus sub-woofer channel) work for the “New Sound New York” exhibition at the Kitchen in (2004). During this exhibition, the piece was played through a special immersive “sound cube” designed by Charlie Morrow. It is being presented in much the same way during this exhibition.