Sonology Concert on 4 December 2024

We are happy to invite you to the second Sonology Discussion Concert of the academic year 2024–25 on 4 December 2024 at 19:00 in Amare’s Conservatoriumzaal.

Please note: all discussion concerts will start at 19:00 this season!

The concert includes a new multichannel reconstruction of Jan Boerman’s Kompositie 1979, a fixed media piece from 1974 by Wolf Rosenberg, a fixed media piece by Karmen Ponikvar, a performance with electric bass guitar, cello and live electronics by Klyl Shifroni and Sheng Chiun Lin, a performance with violin and live electronics by Alina Petrova and Yota Morimoto, a trio for bass clarinet, electric guitar, percussion and fixed media by Nicolás Kliwadenko Mouat, and a performance by the Sonology Electroacoustic Ensemble.

Admission and drinks are free. 

Please be on time or even better, 15 minutes early. Doors will stay closed once the concert has started.

Upcoming events:

30 November 2024: Royal Conservatoire Open Day
12 February 2025: Discussion Concert 3, Conservatoriumzaal
9 April 2025: Discussion Concert 4, Conservatoriumzaal

Performance of Konrad Boehmer’s “Rabioso” in Utrecht on 21 November 2024.

The composer and music critic Konrad Boehmer (1941–2014) was head of the Institute of Sonology from 1994 to 2006. On 21 November 2024, members of the New European Ensemble will perform his Rabioso for piano quintet in the Mennonite Community, Oudegracht 270, Utrecht. Other composers on the program are Zaid Jabri, Yixie Shen, Willem Breuker, Mihkel Kerem and Kate Moore. More information can be found here.

Concerts on 16 and 17 October 2024

We are happy to invite you to the first Sonology Discussion Concert of the academic year 2024–25 on 16 October 2024 at 19:00 in Amare’s Conservatoriumzaal.

Please note: all discussion concerts will start at 19:00 this season!

The concert includes new multichannel fixed-media compositions by Justin Bennett, Agita Reke, Kees Tazelaar, a piece for fixed media and actor by Isul Kim, a performance with live coding and electric bass guitar by Seraina Fässler and Klyl Shifroni, Lucie Nezri’s piece for harpsichord and computer performed by Maciej Skrzeczkowski, and a performance by the Sonology Electroacoustic Ensemble.

Admission and drinks are free. 

Please be on time or even better, 15 minutes early. Doors are closed once the concert has started.

On 17 October at 19:00 a concert that is part of the Crossing Bridges Symposium will take place in Amare’s Conservatoriumzaal. The symposium is a collaboration between the Early Music department and the Institute of Sonology. The concert will include a performance by the Sonology Electroacoustic Ensemble led by Richard Barrett with Sonology and Early Music students, a selection of historical harpsichord pieces and two-part inventions with Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI) by Francesco Elgorni, and a multichannel work by Siamak Anvari based on historical Persian instruments.

Konrad Boehmer memorial concert, 4 October 2024

photo by Pieter Boersma

The composer and musicologist Konrad Boehmer was born in Berlin in 1941. His early works were conducted by Bruno Maderna and Pierre Boulez. His dissertation on the open form in new music, which he defended in 1966 at the age of 25, made a great impression. In the same year he followed the route of his teacher Gottfried Michael Koenig to the Netherlands.

Boehmer was initially embraced by the Dutch avant-garde and began teaching at the Royal Conservatoire in 1972. From 1994 to 2006 he was head of the Institute of Sonology. Konrad Boehmer died on 4 October 2014 in Amsterdam.

As a music critic, Boehmer – often rightly, sometimes wrongly – attacked many of his colleagues at home and abroad, for example via his legendary radio programme Muziekspiegel. Perhaps because of the polemical battle in which he was regularly involved, the composer Boehmer has faded into the background in the Netherlands.

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death, the Konrad Boehmer Foundation has therefore asked the New European Ensemble to compile a programme of instrumental compositions by Boehmer and composers he admired, Willem Breuker, Luigi Nono and Edgard Varèse. The selected works by Boehmer have never been performed in the Netherlands before. Also special is the Dutch premiere of the original version of Nono’s Polifonica–Monodia–Ritmica.

The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert lecture given by Italian musicologist Veniero Rizzardi on the ongoing dialogue between Luigi Nono and Konrad Boehmer. 

4 October 2024, Conservatoriumzaal
19:00, Pre-concert lecture
20:00, Concert

Konrad Boehmer – Fünf Bagatellen
Edgard Varèse – Octandre
Konrad Boehmer – Qadar
Luigi Nono – Polifonica–Monodia–Ritmica

intermission

Konrad Boehmer – Da Ciri
Willem Breuker – Fidget
Konrad Boehmer – Rabioso

Admission free

Adomas Palekas wins Konrad Boehmer Prize 2024

Sonology master’s student Adomas Palekas graduated with distinction and received the Konrad Boehmer Prize 2024 for the outstanding quality of his research project titled Microbial and Molecular Sonifications.

From the jury’s report: “Adomas was an exceptional student in every way, producing some of the most interesting bio-art we’ve encountered, with an innovative approach to sound, using his time at Sonology to expand his horizons and explore new ones.”

We congratulate Adomas and look forward to the further development of his research.

Sonology Final Presentations 2024

Sonology’s final presentations take place on 21, 22 and 23 June 2024.

These concerts are in Amare Studio on the third floor of the Amare building at Spuiplein 150, 2511 DG Den Haag. Please note that all concerts start at 19:00.

Friday 21 June, 19:00
Works by Lawrence Mc GuireOscar PetersEge Şahin and Elif Gülin Soğuksu.

Saturday 22 June, 19:00
Works by Liza KuzyakovaRoc Montoriol TorentGyuchul Moon and Adomas Palekas.

Sunday 23 June, 19:00
Works by Amit DagimJacob Eckhardt and Gaia Heichal.

Admission and drinks are free. 

Please be on time or even better, 15 minutes early. Doors are closed once the concert has started.

Adomas Palekas will also present work at Trixie, Scheldestraat 1–11, 2515 TA Den Haag. The exhibition will start on 19 June at 19:00 with a performance and will be open on 20 and 21 June from 14:00–19:00. On Sunday the exhibition will end on 22 June at 16:00 with kwass pouring and tasting.

2 PhD positions in immersive architectural design and spatialized sound

The Immersive Models research project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Gramazio Kohler Research at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Professor Dr. Rama Gottfried at the Institute of Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).

Project background

The project aims to develop theoretical and experimental research examining the use of immersive audio simulation and modeling techniques in the spatial practices of architecture and sound arts. The team is composed of senior and doctoral researchers at the ETH Zürich and ZHdK, combining expertise in computational design, sound composition, acoustic simulation, virtual reality, psychoacoustics and the history of architecture. The project relies on expertise and cutting edge-infrastructures like the Immersive Design Lab at ETH, and Ambisonic and Wave Field Synthesis arrays at the ICST.

Job description

We offer two PhD positions for developing design-based research on immersive modeling and the integration of auralization tools into the design process. The full-time positions span four years and are funded according to standard SNSF regulations. Upon completing the doctorate, the two fellows will be awarded the title Dr. sc. ETH Zurich from the Department of Architecture (D-ARCH).

The two candidates will be integrating spatial and acoustic simulation software from the first stages of their personal design processes in respectively architecture and sound arts. They will lead comparative studies between on site and modelized experiences focusing on distinguished representative spaces, situations, and goals.

Applicants for both positions must have fundamental knowledge in digital modeling, good communication skills, fluency in English and the willingness to fully commit as part of an international team.

Your profile

Profile 1: Acoustic Simulation in Architectural Design

The candidate must have a diploma/M.Sc. degree in architecture. The ideal candidate has a strong interest in architectural acoustics, knowhow in modeling and scripting tools like Rhino/Grasshopper. Furthermore, experience with immersive tools like Unity would be beneficial. The candidate will be based at Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich.

Profile 2: Spatial Modelisation in Sound Arts

The candidate must have a diploma/M.Sc. degree in architecture or sound art related practices (electroacoustic composition, sound design, spatial audio, etc.). The ideal candidate has knowledge in architecture and acoustics, and experience with tools like MaxMSP, IRCAM Spat, Rhino/Grasshopper and skills in scripting/programming. The candidate will be based and employed at the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST), ZHdK, focusing on sound practices within architectural acoustic spaces.

We offer

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.chevron_rightWorking, teaching and research at ETH Zurich 

We value diversity

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application until June the 30th, 2024.
Your application should include:

A letter of motivation
CV
Portfolio of your work in academia and practice
Two recommendation letters

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal.
Questions regarding the position should be directed to: daro@arch.ethz.ch
Please apply exclusively via the (Link). Applications sent by e-mail or postal services will not be considered.
To learn more about us, please visit the websites: https://www.gramaziokohler.arch.ethz.ch
and https://www.zhdk.ch/en/research/icst.

Apply online now

Festival with Wave Field Synthesis compositions

On 31 May and 1 June 2024, Ji Youn Kang will present her annual Wave Field Synthesis Festival  in Sonology’s New Music Lab and Wave Field Synthesis Studio (6.74) in collaboration with The Game of Life. 

The festival will have new works by Gabriele Dikciute, Gyuchul Moon, Joel Gester Suárez, Harry Golden, Heu Hsu, Concepcion Huerta Flores, Pedro Incenso Latas, Ivan Kalashnik, Isul Kim, Jiyoung Wi Lee, Daniel L. Lythgoe, Karmen Ponikvar, Viktoria Nikolova, Davide Paolillo, Alina Petrova, Walker Smith, Una Mist Óðinsdóttir, Imri Talgam, Akvile Zarankaite, Iz Abad Manning, Otso Aho, Seraina Fässler, Cis De Gendt, Uku Tuuling, Yaara Yaniv, and Simone Sacchi.

31 May (Friday):
Concert 1: 17:00 – 18:30   
Concert 2  19:30 – 21:00   
1 June (Saturday):
Concert 3  13:00 – 14:30    
Concert 4  15:00 – 16:30

Admission is free. Free snacks and drinks are offered in between the concerts.

Directions to the New Music Lab:

When you enter on the ground floor of Amare, proceed to the middle where the elevators are located. Press “6” for the sixth floor before you enter the elevator. Take the elevator up to the 6th floor (Institute of Sonology) and proceed through the glass doors directly into the New Music Lab which is straight ahead.

Vibrotaxis: an exhibition by participants in Justin Bennett’s sound installation class at WEST Den Haag

Opening 17–19hrs Friday 17th May. Exhibition open 18 & 19 May 12 – 18 hrs.
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ, Den Haag

Search Wikipedia for “vibrotaxis” and you find scientific literature about stinkbugs being attracted by vibration. We fortunately have no stinkbugs, but you might find yourself being attracted to vibrations from:

– electronic circuits making relations with moulds
– instruments with a life of their own
– sounds from trees and plants
– voices and instruments in conversation
– image and sound woven on an interactive loom
– a score made out of waste material
– tones in your own ears
– computer fans with agency
– the building itself

All engineered, sculpted, bred, collected or composed by participants in Justin Bennett’s class at the Institute of Sonology.

Are you attracted to vibration? call the Vibrotaxi!

Raviv Ganchrow: sound installation and thesis defence

Raviv Ganchrow’s sound installation Building Telluric (2024), part of the exhibition Beyond the Sound (curated by Jiří Suchánek), will be running until 14 July 2024 at Brno’s House of Arts museum, Czech Republic.  

Raviv’s thesis titled Sound Operation Circuit: Terrestrial Oscillations and Dynamics of the Expanse will be defended at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) on 15 May, 2024 at 17.00.

Acoustic gravity waves apparent in cloud formations off the coast of Angola and Namibia, June 26, 2016. Photo courtesy of MODIS, NASA/GISS, https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/features/201607_gwaves/.