Highlights Computer Music and Sound Technology

Videostill Performative Klangskulptur ยปInterferenzenยซ by Philip Tschiemer. Video: Bojan Milosevic
Videostill Performative Klangskulptur ยปInterferenzenยซ by Philip Tschiemer. Video: Bojan Milosevic

    ยซThe pandemic has revealed how strongly research depends on direct contact and international exchange. On the other hand, the urgent imperative of sustainability challenges existing mobility. We need to respond in a productive and meaningful manner, complementing on-site activities with telematic formats.ยป

    Prof. Germรกn Toro Pรฉrez, Head of the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST)
     

        Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact

        In addition to peer-reviewed publications on haptic feedback, the ICST released software in the fields of telematics, Ambisonics, synthesis/machine learning (Kฤฑvanรง Tatarโ€™s research exchange) and virtual architecture. The artist-in-residence programme was continued on a reduced scale with three residencies. Only five concerts before an audience could take place at the beginning of the year and in early autumn.

        โ†’ Overview ยซScientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impactยป

          Promotion of Talents and Careers

          In addition to existing appointments, the ICST appointed eight new students, graduates and young researchers to research projects in 2020. Daniel Bisigโ€™s Marie Curie Fellowship (2020โ€“2022) enabled us to fill a post-doc position (two-year fixed-term). Yuri de Pra (PhD candidate from the University of Udine) completed another research phase at the ICST in 2020 (SNSF project ยซHapteevยป).

          โ†’ Overview ยซPromotion of Talents and Careersยป

            Cooperation and Internationality

            Besides ongoing project-based exchanges, two international awards deserve to be mentioned: the prestigious annual ยซPreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritikยป (Prize of German record critics) for the SACD ยซLes Espaces ร‰lectroacoustiques IIยป (ยซPerformance Practice of Electroacoustic Musicยป, directed by G. Toro Pรฉrez) and the nomination for the S+T+ARTS Prize of Ars Electronica 2021 (ยซSounding Soilยป, directed by M. Maeder).

            โ†’ Overview ยซCooperation and Internationalityยป

              External Funding

              ยซSpatial Dis-Continuities in Telematic Performanceยป (SNSF, directed by P. Mรผller) continued ICSTโ€™s research in a highly topical field together with the DKV and the Immersive Arts Space. The ยซEncordยป project (SNSF/Inosuisse BRIDGE, directed by M. Fritsche and G.M. Hutter), initiated by two young ETH developers, found a conducive research environment at the ICST at the interface between technology and art.

              โ†’ Overview ยซResearch Projectsยป

                Award-winning: ยซLes Espaces ร‰lectroacoustiques IIยป

                Awarding the Jahrespreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (Prize of German record critics) for the SACD Les Espaces ร‰lectroacoustiques II, the jury wrote: ยซThe albumโ€™s seven carefully recorded works, including iconic pieces such as La fabbrica illuminata [...] by Luigi Nono, Kontakte by Karlheinz Stockhausen and two electronic masterpieces by Gottfried Michael Koenig all shine in new splendour. A listening adventure from times keen on experimenting.ยป

                Espaces Cover

                  Event Highlight: Telematic Performances

                  Telematic concerts are part of the SNSF research project Spatial Dis/Continuities in Telematic Performances: geographically distant stages are interlinked via communication technologies, enabling performers to interact with each other. The audience at the different venues were given specific insights into the overall event, in which performersโ€™ real and virtual presence overlapped.

                  Nelson Hiu, chinese flute and string (Hong Kong) Tizia Zimmermann, accordion (Zรผrich) Picture: Patrick Mรผller
                  Tsui Chin Hung, guitar (Hong Kong) Charles Ng, saxophone (Hong Kong) Joan Jordi Oliver Arcos, saxophone (Zรผrich) Picture: Patrick Mรผller

                    Worth a Visit: ยซPalรฉograph'ยป

                    Palรฉograph', an interactive installation on permanent display at the Musรฉe de Prรฉhistoire โ€“ Grottes de Saulges (F), invites viewers to discover the almost 30,000-year-old paintings of the Saulges caves through scenes projected onto a large interactive screen. The ICSTโ€™s Immersive Lab technology enables visitors to recreate or reinvent the paintings on a virtual discovery tour.

                    ยฉ Photos & Videos by Jan Schacher, Anne Dubos and Fabrizio Saudino
                    ยฉ Photos & Videos by Jan Schacher, Anne Dubos and Fabrizio Saudino
                    ยฉ Photos & Videos by Jan Schacher, Anne Dubos and Fabrizio Saudino
                    ยฉ Photos & Videos by Jan Schacher, Anne Dubos and Fabrizio Saudino

                      Fruitful Exchange: ยซPerforming Live Electronic Musicยป Workshops

                      The Performing Live Electronic Music project involves a practice-based investigation of electroacoustic works from the last three decades. The work is based on a close dialogue between performers and composers and involves expert support and an international network of specialised institutions. The main form of exchangeis a series of workshops dedicated to discussing, analysing and performing the works.