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12/24/1966 - From Space to Environment - I by Roger Reynolds

RR I From Space Environment I Uguisudani machi Shibuya Tokyo Japan December Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Dick From Space Environment title exhibi Tokyo November Participants included graphic designers architects painters sculptors musicians although expects hopes interdisciplinary explorations categories tended break We arrived subject frequently conversations seemed worth attention Further investigation oppor tunity exhibited items confirmed interest suggested three areas importance motivation manner After necessary background I concentrate first these Tokyo department stores aggressively enterprising other Japanese businesses typical dozen shows covering everything pottery embroidery contemporary paintings group shows Though these displays rotate rapidly ran6jing length weeks still effect considerable public exposure From Space Environment example persons The Matsuya Department Store Ginza shopping district offered large exhibition space somewhat adventuresome provided substantial funds mounting designed architect Arata Isozaki The Participants however reimbursed considerable expense supplies labor which their products required But course unusual circumstance contemporary The attendance critical attention accorded exhibition apparently gratifying around The motivation participant would quite personal though there Was I think usual quota hangers attractive important complement exhibitors What conceptual unity there tacitly shared question terms increasingly overwhelming environment Whether terms include using words redefinitions which RR I things freshly encouraging people respond actively their surroundings instead passively accepting employing jujitsu principle turring opponent environment strength against depends indivldual outlook techniques available The traditional Japanese space complex basic comprehensive West For implies physical dimension relative empti The dimension itself matter relates Western concept bounded volume precisely intrusion Western notion boundary their freely space which their terest another newer environment Environment implies Japanese English speaking people restrictive multi leveled interaction between conditions objects structures which surround moment Surround advisedly progres sively diversity force additions environment Natural elements somehow easier engage dialogue substitutions cement The musical contributions From Space Environment certainly encouraged exchange sometimes overtaxed Composer Toshi Ichiyanagi critic Kunlharu Akiyama designed exhibits collaboration electronics engineer Jyunosuke 0kuyama All their Raised Tokyo bespectacled Ichiyanagi trained pianist young known Japanese pianist Chieko Hara He studied composition several prizes before going United States period eight years ending During Ichiyanagi worked extensively John Cage extraordinary contro versial American composer Cage example involving individual unique experience rather homage objects agreeable Ichiyanagi since return Japan developed sophisticated personal manner approaches related Cage activities His surprising music published C F Peters New York known avant garde audiences everywhere Akiyama educated Tokyo obtaining degree French Literature Waseda University Though primary interest poetry activities cover range including musical criticism teaching writing radio television broadcasts articles record jacket notes designing musical constructions This diverse activity somehow solved graceful energetic package Akiyama visited Europe America communi cates several languages Apparently without significant formal training Okuyama naturally mechanics electronics After several years sound engineer Company native lqyoto weary studio routines Tokyo began working progressive producer Hiroshi Teshigahara Woman I The Face Another Through Teshigahara composers Ichiyanagi combination imaginative musical minds ingenious uninhibited electronics productive everyone 0kuyama words always trying produce sounds music pleased close association composers their requirements ation which would undoubtedly cause discomfort engineers Ichiyanagi first efforts field aptly terms sound design three years Takamatsu Shikoku Island decided stimulate tourism building beach The committee charge chose contemporary asked Ichiyanagl provide sound while sculptor iiitsuaki Tanaka orked stone Ichiyanagi asked sculpture scale widely tributed placed speakers inside individual pieces advantage their varied structure produce different sorts sound There example chimney objects which music flowed spectators heads other ground level shapes which direct By electronic means composew altered mixed soun4s traditional music Takamatsu locale The resulting music broadcast during three periods practical thoui might proved Sound ramed various speakers aural environment constantly choose about In Matsuya exhibition Ichiyanagi collaborated 0kuyama producing considerably sophisticated satis fying product sound design The composer basic intent before provide shifting active stimulus which would encourage awareness least aspect environment achieved importart reversal Traditionally music played passive audience neither fected number nature audience probably special circumstances listener wishes unusual thusiasm The traditional listener observe receive participate To degree spread nobbed phonograph allowed listener control privacy study there minimal The turnabout achieved Ichiyanagi object become clear I describe Pictured hexagonal column centimeters Its plain black plastic surface interrupted number disks Ex I shows while operation circular windows visually RR I RR I intriguing The composer polarizing films produce O00C Ex I three kinds periodic apparent motion converging concentric circles Ex rotating blades Ex shifting complexes Polarization imvolves selective orientation light energy plaue If superimposed polarizing films oriented parallel light through their rotated degrees respect other amount light transmitted minimum Pieces differing polarization glued geometrical arrangements prototypes pictured Ex Inside object fluorescent bulbs Ex Ex RR I surrounded translucent plastic cylinder whose sides slats polarized different angle orientation Ex The light falling point inner surface polarized whichever inner cylinder happens posite moment In light passes through whichever portion pasted design possess matching parallel orientation As inner cylinder tates polarization falling shifts periodically matches change appar motion produced As drawn towards colorful activity various disks insect flower surprised emanating object The sound tively simple construction familiar anyone heard early electronic music cursed electronic organ neighborhood changes primarily characterlstics dynamics frequency pitch As nears Ichiyanagi object sound rises gradually depending pattern movement hands surface pitch almost inaudibly The dynamic level depends disturbing object small large finger patterned motion described physical object presence cylinder produce analogously patterned sequence sound Here device worked Okuyama depends phenomenon capacitance The amount electrical charge RR I which between plates condenser depends nature material dielectric between In objects vicinity cylinder dielectrics between plates their nature change capacitance atypical condenser Ex The small differences electrical produce slight quency variations cillator operate vicinity The variable oscillator paired second which invarl Although signal range human hearing differ tones created closely matched frequen combined audible frequency range Thus slight changes capacitance caused presence observers nified produce audible result The capacities object described above limited imagination Ichiyanagi technical limitations Okuyama Both would something elaborate involving similar opportuni actions desires onlooker affect music total experience receives Time deadly matter finances restrained The parts alone neighborhood O00 allow hours labor specialized knowledg Ichiyanagi New York grant hopes investigate possibilities using computers process listener responses In might alter music audience hears their current needs It necessary above perspective Though sound design important involvement lchiyanagi represents fraction musical activity He accomplished piarist regularly produces scores albeit somewhat uncongenial traditionally oriented amalgams Western traditional Japanese instruments Electronic music recorded frequently these performed works various black boxes devised response composer needs Some 0kuyama devices emerged crowded effective studio concert situations where allow mixig redistribution components various kinds modulation instrumetal sounds produced performance This another important development transformational potential RR I electronic circuits flexible performance situation instruments always It confined producing laboratory electronic studio fixed product which virtually identical perform Akiyama Environmental Mechanical Orchestra No might guess grandchild George Antheil Rube Gold It elaborate focused effort general direction Ichiyanagi object Ex shows scheme block diagram Driefly microphones several sorts FOUNTAIN Ex relay signals various electronic devices which through other circumstances designed rearrange freshly order preparation redistribution environment which loudspeakers One microphone collects through sounds vicinity conversation footsteps These signals amplified tuned oscillators complexity microphone signal frequency components amplitudes determines which oscillators respond degree Each oscillators connected panel lights placed reflect surface basin their reflections received after considerable breaking uneven surface water phototransis The phototransistor sensitive light transforming radiation receives electrical energy which mixer means which relative strengths incoming signals balanced The mixer simul A taneously receiving other including contact micro phones affixed floor boards Mechanical Orchestra The mixer directed through apparatus which Okuyama calls rhythm maker It several square signals different periods overlap opening result Through pattern openings which shaded areas Ex sound output mixer What finally emerges loudspeakers In bition there owing financial limitations therefore complexly ordered pattern sound bursts What actually hears stems speech sounds which movements produce through transformations delays action rhythm maker regularly spaced sound bursts probably quite ferent content origins which would difficult guess Some openings occur moment mixer emitting stron6 signal while during others there almost output It possible comment detail either Akiyama conception realization because mantled arrived The imort features I think materials produced environment opposed constructing collecting vials irrelevant locale applying these products administered perhaps flung their makers I intrigued possibility atteptin influence environment turning products The applications confined aesthetic instances If example coffee house clientele prefers piped order enjoy requires substatial dynamic level second coffee house requirement conversation inhibited But microphones placed booth noted onset speech would possible automatically dynamic level music immediate If number comes dynamic level remains since everyone listens while commanding automatically repressed lessness produce Other displays From Space Environment sound while actually relying Of these interesting effective collection boxes artist Ay O Tokyo briefly present York City As picture following shows number small boxes attached surface Each enclosed object substance which surprised visitor distinctive tactile properties Among amusin containing familiar ovelty store trinket which touched responded shock Again participant lon6ger spectator order receive The manner approach actions RR I I0 determines nificant degree nature takes terms perience To focus entertainment value novelty devices I described would exciting plications Finally should pointed efforts Ichi yanagi Akiyama Oku Ay O others Matsuya bition course paralleled others around world James Seawright recent Stable Gallery New York City instance others Charles Mattox Hans Haacke Yaacov Again worked The nical complexity which transistor electronics Grey Walter havloural experiments mechanical animals fostered recent Patticipati0 underlies impor fields kinetic photo Yoshiyuki Sakai optical Bijutsu Shuppan music which depend doing should follow If parlor string quartet playing faded perhaps something Sincerely yours Received New York January