UNVEILING EMOTI-CHAIR: A CONCERT + DEMONSTRATION THAT EXPLORES NEW WAY OF HEARING, MUSIC + AUDITORY RESEARCH
CO-PRODUCED BY ARRAY, SMART LAB AND THE MUSIC GALLERY
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24, 2009
A New Way of Hearing presents contemporary repertoire performed by members of the acclaimed Array Ensemble in collaboration with the Science of Music, Auditory Research and Technology (SMART) Lab based at Ryerson University. The experimental research involved in this event focuses on a newly developed device called the emoti-chair, which was pioneered by the ASID (Alternative Sensory Information Display) project at Ryerson University.
The emoti-chair is a sensory substitution technology designed to provide greater access to music for all people. This is accomplished by converting sound into 'vibrotactile' information dispersed across the back of the chair. The basic design presents discrete bands of frequency as independent points of vibration. Deaf listeners experience structural and emotional aspects of music in a manner that resembles the experience of hearing listeners. The experience for hearing listeners can best be described as sensorially immersive.
There will be six chairs at the concert! We hope that many of the audience members will be able to spend some time in the chairs, both in listening to live performances by the Array Ensemble, and recordings.
The program includes:
New work for solo percussion, composed / performed by Array Ensemble percussionist Rick Sacks * world premiere
New work by composer Paul Swoger-Ruston * world premiere
A work by Martin Bartlett
La Vie de Boheme by Michael J. Baker
Claude Vivier’s Pour Violon et Clarinette.
Visit The Smart Lab
More about Emoti-chair
More about ASID
The Smart Lab Team
SAT. OCT. 24/09
A CONCERT UNVEILING EMOTI-CHAIR:
A New Way of Hearing, Advancing Music + Auditory Research
Music Gallery 197 John St., Toronto, 416-204-1080
2 PM DEMO | 3 PM Concert | $20 adults / $15 Gallery members / students / hard-of-hearing + the Deaf
Array Ensemble clarinetist Bob Stevenson, percussionist Rick Sacks, violinist Rebecca van der Post perform Jo Kondo, Claude Vivier, Michael J. Baker + world premieres of music by Rick Sacks + Paul Swoger-Ruston
* proceeds from this event will benefit the Bob Rumball Foundation for the Deaf, which provides a variety of care and support to Deaf children and adults with a variety of needs, including troubled youth.
