Murmuration consists of one hundred wirelessly controlled robotic woodblocks mounted on trees in a large, forested area. A wide variety of textures, waves, and gestures reminiscent of natural sound sources is generated in real time by a computer program and sent to the instruments via radio transmission. The woodblocks were custom-built out of resonant hardwoods (maples, ash, walnut, mahogany, and purple heart) and cut to different dimensions to provide a range of pitches and timbres.
Murmuration has recently been presented at the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson and the State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce, Virginia. The project was commissioned by the North Carolina Arts Council and received additional funding from New Music USA.
https://vimeo.com/812954761​
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Jonathon Kirk
Jonathon Kirk, Professor of Music at North Central College, teaches music composition, music theory and analysis, computer and electronic music, film music, and interdisciplinary courses in music and technology. His musical and visual work has recently been presented at venues including the Tate Modern in London, London and Melbourne International Animation Festivals, Festival Internazionale di Musica Elettroacustica del Conservatorio S. Cecilia in Rome, and others. His music is published on Innova Records, Albany Records, Ears & Eyes Records, and Garrett’s Kayak.
Lee Weisert
Lee Weisert is a composer of instrumental and electronic music and an associate professor in the Music Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches courses in composition, electronic music, and musicianship. Along with composer Jonathon Kirk, he is a member of the Portable Acoustic Modification Laboratory (PAML), a collaborative sound installation team. Weisert and Kirk presented their work at the 2014 TEDx Conference at UNC-Chapel Hill.
