June 17. 18. + 19.2010 - Constellations at SONAR 2010 Barcelona

Constellations

Created especially for the Cosmocaixa Planetarium, Constellations is an audiovisual project by Stephan Mathieu and Caro Mikalef inspired by the music of Antonio de Cabezón, one of the most important Renaissance composers of keyboard music, who was born 500 years ago this year. The roots of the project lie in Stephan Mathieus Virginals series, a set of contemporary works performed with historic media and early instruments.

For Constellations, Mathieu and Mikalef will utilize electromagnets to set the strings of a harpsichord into continuous vibration. By expanding the natural sound of the instrument using magnetic fields, the resonating strings generate harmonically rich sonorities that gradually fill the planetarium space with overtonal patterns.

To frame the piece with a prelude and coda, harpsichordist Carles Budó will perform special interpretations of original music by Antonio de Cabezón (who composed by applying theories of astronomy) on a second instrument, creating a dialogue between the work of the Renaissance composer and Stephan Mathieu and Caro Mikalef’s take on sound.

Another protagonist of the performance is a slowly spinning, purpose built mobile, constructed with optical lenses, mirrors, color filters and metal discs, which projects, illuminated by HMI spotlights, a series of subtle light forms onto the planetarium dome. Spectral light, reflections and shadows will constantly reconfigure, alluding to the constellations that give the piece its name.

The mobile is created with generous support by Carl Zeiss.

Curated by Arnau Horta i Sellarès

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June 17. 18. + 19.2010

SONAR 2010

CosmoCaixa Science Park
C Isaac Newton, 26
Barcelona
Spain