The American Society for Acoustic Ecology announces:

"Listening for the Future" first-ever national symposium addressing global soundscape

July 9th, 10th & 11th, 2010

Chicago, Illinois June 24, 2010 —Listening for the Future will take place from July 9-11, 2010 to actively engage with the most neglected aspect of our environment: the soundscape. Hosted by the newly-founded Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology and World Listening Project, this will be the first conference held by the American Society for Acoustic Ecology in Chicago, home to a thriving sonic arts community and center world for world-class architecture, on the shore of largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. An inspiring three days of discussion, workshops, concerts, and soundwalks are planned in an emerging field of study and activism that unites a broad range of social, scientific, and artistic concerns.

Event Highlights

Friday, July 9 – ‘Citizen Sound’ symposium (5-7PM) opens with a wine and cheese reception, introductions to each of the ASAE chapters, and presentations by leaders in Chicago’s cultural and advocacy scene at Columbia College, 33 E. Congress Parkway, basement lobby and room # LL11. Featured guests include Lou Mallozzi, Executive Director of Experimental Sound Studio and architect Graham Balkany of the Gropius in Chicago Coalition. A media lounge, where guests can sample CDs and peruse publications by participants, performers and ASAE members, will be open all night. Attendees will how they may participate in the first World Listening Day (July 18, 2010). Following dinner at a local eatery, we’ll be treated to a concert (8:30-10:30PM – $10) featuring ASAE member composers, performers and special guests.
Saturday, July 10 – Head "out of town" for an afternoon soundwalk (2-4PM) in Miller Woods, at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. After the dunes soundwalk, it’s back to the city for another group dinner (6:30-8:15) followed by a Chicago nightlife soundwalk (8:30-10PM). This day’s events should provide plenty of opportunities for informal conversation and networking among members.
Sunday, July 11 – ASAE members lead a workshop for children (2-3PM) and families near Gallery 400. ASAE members from New York, San Francisco, the Midwest, Southwest and beyond will present a concert in the gallery, 3:30-5:30PM at 400 S. Peoria Street (MC 034). This event will also be streamed live. The evening concludes with a live radio performance on Philip von Zweck’s “Something Else” show at 10 PM-12AM on WLUW 88.7FM.
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The ASAE – Listening for the Future

During the course of the symposium, the ASAE’s governing body and leaders from all the regional chapters will be meeting to brainstorm for the future of the organization.

Registration & Travel

Registration for Listening to the Future is $50 ($35 for students and artists) and includes membership in the ASAE. All events, including both concerts, the ‘Citizen Sound’ symposium, the soundwalks and the workshop are free for ASAE members (current for 2010). Benefits of ASAE membership are provided on the ASAE website.

A registration page will be posted shortly, along with locations of all venues, maps, schedules etc.

All meals are pay-your-own, but we’ll be making advance reservations so will ask you to register. Transportation between venues, including the Dunes soundwalk, will be via public transit. These costs are not covered by the ASAE, but we will plan to meet and travel as a group to the Dunes soundwalk.

Hotels and travel resources, and any other additional information will be listed on the MSAE’s Listening for the Future web page: http://mwsae.org. Please bookmark and check back often, as we’ll be making frequent updates.

History

The Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE), founded in 2009, is a chapter of the American Society for Acoustic Ecology (ASAE), the U.S. affiliate of the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology (WFAE), an international association of affiliated organizations and individuals, who share a common concern with the state of the world’s soundscapes. Our members represent a multi-disciplinary spectrum of individuals engaged in the study of the social, cultural and ecological aspects of the sonic environment. Learn more about the WFAE on its website: http://wfae.net

Listening for the Future Organizing Committee:

Eric Leonardson, Chair
Michelle Nagai
Andrea Polli

Assisted by:
Jamie Davis
Jesse Seay

Listening for the Future is organized by the American Society for Acoustic Ecology, and hosted by the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology and the World Listening Project. Sponsors include Vocalo.org (89.5 FM), The National Park Service and Columbia College.

—
Eric Leonardson, founder
Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE)
Email: info@mwsae.org
Web: http://mwsae.org
WLP web: http://www.worldlisteningproject.org
Skype: worldlistening
Mobile: 773-218-5796

WORKSHOP 27-30 MAY 2010
RAFAEL TORAL SPACE PROGRAM WORKSHOP: Rethinking Electronic Music

Rafael Toral calls his playing style “post-free jazz electronic music”, once described as “a brand of electronic music far more visceral and emotive than that of his cerebral peers”. Toral’s Space Program delivers music that is full of clarity, articulating silence and sound in a thoughtful, yet physical way. A long time collaborator of Sei Miguel, he has performed throughout Europe, Canada, USA, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia, released 13 albums and produced the first Anthology of Portuguese Electronic Music. He is a member of MIMEO orchestra.

http://rafaeltoral.net

Electronic Music development has historically been mostly oriented to the sound source (technology) and the object (finished work). Unlike in jazz, the individual is rarely the focal point. More concerned with the musician than with the instrument, the Space Program is Rafael Toral’s long-term research into human performance possibilities in Electronic Music, a fundamental reevaluation of its conception, performance and experience.

The Space Program Workshop shares some concepts, focusing on how we make performance decisions. Aimed at musicians using hacked, bent, or custom electronic instruments, it raises fundamental questions about what can we do with them. The Workshop provides participants with conceptual tools for structuring musical discourse, with emphasis on phrasing from Space Program’s viewpoint.

The workshop has the duration of 4 days and covers topics like:

1. Matter: Instrumental choices and interface optimization.

2. Discourse: elaborating a syntax and articulating silence.

3. Composition: listening modes and macro-form decisions.

4. Performance: the body on stage and functions in a group.

Participants are enabled to perform collectively in the end.

What is required :

– The Space Program Workshop has to do with electronic instrument control. Your instrument absolutely needs to be able to instantly start and stop making sound.

– It is aimed at non-conventional electronic instruments that require a physical interaction. No keyboards. No classic instruments. No computers (except with gestural controllers).

– Previous hacking workshops and basic electronics knowledge are preferred.

– It’s about simplicity. Be prepared to focus and simplify your sound.

– A small mixer if you have several sources (your output should be one channel).

– Headphones (and your own monitor circuit, mixer, etc., if necessary)

What is offered :

– Focus on your instrument technique and choice of sounds to perform.

– Structure your sounds, establishing a personal lexicon.

– Exercise an articulated way of listening and dealing with silence and “space”.

– In short, to develop a physical, organic, elemental approach to electronic music.

Schedule for Workshop: May 2010

27: 15:00 – 19:30 (with coffee break)

28: 10:00 – 13:00 // lunch break // 14:30 – 18:00

29: 10:00 – 13:00 // lunch break // 14:30 – 18:00

30: 10:00 – 13:00 // lunch break // 14:30 – approx: 17:00 //

// move to ausland – sound check /performance at ausland LychenerStr. 60 10437 Berlin

Doors open at 9pm Performance begins at 10pm

Workshop Location: @ NK Elsenstr. 52 2HH 2Etage 12059 Berlin

Participation is limited to 6 participants.

Registration: Pre-registration is required and can be done by sending an email to info@nkprojekt.de

Fee: 160€

http://www.nkprojekt.de
 

The SEAMUS Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of the Frost School of Music of the University of Miami as the site for the 2011 SEAMUS National Conference to be held January 20-22. Colby Leider and Kristine Burns will co-host.

Given January temperatures ranging from 60-70ºF this will indeed be a Springtime conference. Colby and Kristine have plans for some exciting peripheral events that may include a pre-conference outdoor excursion/concert and special banquet. The 260-acre University of Miami campus is located in Coral Gables, Florida, with easy access from Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL).

Electronic Submissions and Call for Works With the 2011 conference SEAMUS is making a permanent move to complete online submissions. Details of the process for submitting works online will be provided in an upcoming Call for Works.

The change to online submissions puts SEAMUS in line with other media-intensive conferences and will have the benefit of streamlining the adjudication process, which given a substantial increase in the number of submissions over recent years has become a critical need.

For the 2011 conference the online submissions will have the added benefit of allowing us to maintain an October submissions deadline in spite of the need for earlier acceptance/confirmation notifications ahead of a January conference.

Christopher Hopkins, Director of Conferences, will host the submissions server with a technical team located at Iowa State University. For answers to questions about submissions formats and procedures not covered in the Call for Works please contact Chris at director_conferences@seamusonline.org. Submissions will be open from August 16through October 15. The Call for Works will be out shortly.