Pythmenas (2019) - a 3D audio installation for 28 channels by Theocharis Papatrechas published on 2020-04-02T19:36:40Z Pythmenas (Greek word for ‘bottom of the ocean’) is a collaborative 3D audio installation work that took place at the Spatialization Lab of the Qualcomm Institute at the University of California, San Diego in May 2019. Three distinct worlds interact to create a musical experience. The ocean sets the primary component of the triadic entity, inspiring the entirety of the artistic work. The sonic profiles from recordings of several of its living organisms (i.e. whales, dolphins, seals) made by scientists of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography are being interpreted by members (instrumentalists) of the overwater universe, who carry out a discussion following a line of instructions for improvisatory action. Technology, the last constituent, intervenes, capturing and processing the activity of the performers as well as manipulating the original recorded media. The final outcome is the audio registration and fusion of the totality of layers projected and spatialized through an infrastructure of 28 spherically configured loudspeakers laid out in 4 levels; ground level - center (ring of 4), ear level - perimeter (ring of 12), 2 meters above ear level - perimeter (ring of 8), ceiling - center (ring of 4). The work is influenced by the recording process of underwater sounds, in which the participation of the three worlds (i.e. ocean species, humans, technology) is necessitated. Collaborators: Alex Ishov, flutes Dimitris Paganos Koukakis, piano Ilana Waniuk, violin Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, percussion Theocharis Papatrechas, composition and electronics Genre Electronic
