Jay Schwartz
Music for Autosonic Gongs IX
Duration: 60'
Schwartz - Music for Autosonic Gongs IX for 8 electro-acoustically controlled tam-tams (chinese gongs)
Video
Work introduction
As part of the supporting programme for documenta 12, Jay Schwartz was invited to present his impressive sound installation Music for 8 Autosonic Gongs (for eight electro-acoustically operated tamtams and Chinese gongs). The installation ran from 16 June to 23 September in St Martin’s church in Kassel, Germany.
Schwartz explains his concept of the ‘autosonic gong’ as follows:
The instrument is set in vibration by an electro-acoustic process, without any contact. The sounds produced this way are therefore entirely organic – neither electric, nor electronically amplified. A microphone is placed very close to the front of the tam-tam, and a loudspeaker suspended on the other side. An electro-acoustic feedback loop is created simply by switching on and controlling the loudspeaker microphone circuit. The tam-tam picks up the feedback, begins to vibrate with its own personal resonance, and becomes independent. The feedback remains inaudible. The instrument speaks with the primal screams inhabiting its innermost depths.