Project Description:
This project deals with highly complex questions both artistic and scientific. The main question being if the universe thinks and if it does, how does it think? What are the patterns that can be found around us on earth and in the universe? Do stars communicate with each other? Is there a language within the universe and if yes what words are used? Is the communication of the universe different to how we communicate with each other? If we could listen to the universe, what would it tell us? And finally, is there a music or sound within the universe and how would that sound?
The Thinking Universeā will be developed and based entirely on a new software that will have two distinctive elements:
1. Individual movement sonification:
Translating movements of arms and legs into data and from that develop a full body midi controller.
(watch on youtube)
Group movement sonification:
The second element is several dancers moving through space together. The movement will be based on specific patterns found in the universe, such as star systems or questions related to quantum mechanics.
(watch on youtube)
Bios:
Mike von der Nahmer is a composer, sound researcher, music psychotherapist, music dramaturge and creator and artistic director of MuTaDra (Music ā Theater ā Drama) home of transformative music theater. His American/German/Cuban heritage influences the questions of identity, complexity, and transcendent connection that shape his music. He has written over 30 works for stage and over 100 works for concert and film; many have received national/international awards and have been performed around the world. Mike has worked for companies such as GRAMMY, Kenwood, Sony BMG and BMW. He is currently doing his PhD at the German Aerospace Center, researching āUnderscoring Aircraft Ballets ā Sonifying Air Traffic Control Data to heighten Situational Awareness ā A Composerās Perspective. The center of his work is the search and creation of the sonification of the mind, his (utopian) idea and concept that might help us in the future to understand the complexities of the brain through an audible representation.