Sferics are natural VLF (very low frequency) radio waves caused by lightning strikes in the Earth's athmosphere. Alvin Lucier describes them as "signals - resonant clicks and pops, called tweeks and honks by scientists - [which] occur in the audible range of humans and may be picked up by antennas and amplified for listening. They are best received at night, far from power lines. Occasionally, certain sferics get caught on and travel long distances along the magnetic flux lines around the earth, producing whistlers, downward-gliding signals which may last up to two or three seconds."
We will build long loop antennas and take them on day and night time excursions to different locations around Berlin to listen to these signals and other electromagnetic waves.
The semester assignment includes creating an antenna and the work on maps indicating sounds that were discovered along the way. The maps may serve as sound archives or as scores for listening walks, performance or story telling.
The final presentation will take place during the weekend of S4NTP performances on Sunday June 23 (to be confirmed).
schedule: ON FRIDAYS
first session: May 24 at 12h in GRU 111
COURSE DATES
MAY 24 + 31 + JUNE 7 + 14 + 21
- depending on weather forecast -
2-3 day time sessions 12-16:00
2-3 night time excursions 22:00-2am
+ final presentation on Sunday June 23 (to be confirmed)
please register via email
