Body Sensing Sound

Language: English

Andi Otto, a sound artist from Hamburg and a teacher in the Sound Arts department at the HKB in Bern, focuses on the intersection of the human body in electronic music and digital media in his artistic endeavors. The masterclass aims to facilitate an exchange panel with interdisciplinary artists to explore contemporary opportunities for individual expression and physical engagement with digital media. The workshop encompasses three key aspects –

Fello This segment comprises a demonstration and in-depth discussion of Andi Otto’s extended cello, referred to as “Fello.” It involves the self-built sensor-extended cello bow allowing performers to manipulate cello sound through gestures in the air. Since 2011, Andi Otto has showcased this instrument globally. The session will feature a breakdown of the technological setup, mapping concepts, and associated musical aesthetics.

Steim History/New Musical Instruments This part offers insights into the history of experimental sensor-interfaces developed at STEIM in Amsterdam. Andi Otto’s research for the “Dutch Touch” PhD project explored the STEIM SensorLab, a pioneering device from the 1980s enabling the connection of gestures and digital media via sensors. This presentation provides an overview of experimental electronic music pillars in Europe, delving into questions about musical instruments in the past and present, as well as how technology alters sound interaction.

Falling Matters (Sound through Dance) Andi Otto has collaborated closely with choreographer Victoria Hauke (New York/Hamburg) for over a decade, developing setups where the dancing body generates music as a dancer rather than a musician. Their show “Falling Matters” (2019) features a silent score audible only when one of the three dancers falls onto the floor, captured by contact microphones. In this semi-improvised setting, the dancing body triggers and performs the sound while the resulting sound influences the body’s movement. This presentation details the sensor-technology, composition, and choreography of the piece, aiming to transcend traditional hierarchies between music and dance.