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Adam Basanta’s ‘Small Movements’, the Fragile Dialogue Between Feedback, microsound and Tiny Spaces

We have before featured Adam Basanta’s work, which has been predominantly developed on installations in which he uses miniature audio systems, controlled feedback, kinetic structures and a fantastic dialogue of both small and big spaces to create intricate works both aural and conceptually interesting.

His latest piece includes some of those elements usually present in his installations but instead of being fixed in rooms and sculptures, are used in an improvised performance called Small Movements, in which feedbacks, grains, objects, tiny spaces, delicate rhythms and thin drones interact to create a beautiful dynamic continuum of microsonic silhouettes.

The performance was commissioned by Vancouver New Music festival 2016 edition (October).

“”Small Movements” is a sound performance using tuned microphone feedback, modified amplification techniques, and kinetic elements.

Using controlled feedback techniques refined over a series of sound installations between 2014-2016, this performance is a meditation on the instabilities of sound production; the quiet, fragile and delicate phenomena resulting from the intertwining of sonic technologies.

During the performance, sounds are always created through collaboration between the performerʼs actions, the tendencies of sound production equipment, and the modification of acoustic and spatial relationships between various technologies. Microphones and speakers are hand-manipulated to create delicate, low volume, harmonic feedback melodies and chords; jars are placed on top of speakers as physical sonic filters; cassette tape recorders record their surroundings and play it back in phased loops.

The performance relies on small movements, small changes in the relationship between performer and technologies, and technologies to one another, creating a sense of mystery and wonder as to how the musical results are achieved.”

For more, visit Adam Basanta’s website.