0-50 Hz

2022

live performance – 13:00 min

for percussion duo, loudspeaker, microphone

In 0-50Hz we examine loudspeakers and microphones as direct sound-producing instruments, with a focus on the speaker as a percussive instrument.

For this piece we concentrate on very low frequencies in the infrasound range. The otherwise largely inaudible spectrum 0-50hz becomes a rich palette of sounds from percussive noises to complex rhythmic structures and whirring tone clusters.

0-50hz is a piece for percussion duo. The spatial movements inside the speaker cone are transferred to a multi-channel sound system therefore adding the dimension of space as a musical parameter to this instrument.

This piece was composed for a live tour in Canada in spring 2022. In their live electronic setup hauptmeier|recker are incorporating a variety of controllers, tactile sensors, live sampling, no-input mixers, as well as live miking and feedback techniques. All of the pieces played during that tour investigate on different approaches of using loudspeakers and microphones as musical instruments. Since 2017 Hauptmeier|Recker are developing their own system for spatializing sounds in live concerts. Their custom software “3D LEM” enables them to intuitively incorporate complex spatial gestures into their live performance. The movement of sounds in a 3D space becomes an integral part of the performances and is just as important to the music as the sound, timbre, pitch and gestures. Therefore room itself becomes an instrument that is played by both performers at the same time. In the audio documentation the 3D sound is mixed down to binaural audio, so headphones are strongly recommended.