Music is often seen as a one-directional experience—composers create, performers interpret, and audiences listen. However, what if listeners could play a more active role in shaping the music they hear?
Movement as a Musical Element
In conventional concerts, the audience remains stationary while sound moves towards them. In contrast, this project leverages the open public space of the Joanneum Quarter to allow the audience to move through different acoustic environments, making movement an essential part of the musical experience.
This already begins with the Joanneum Quarters being an open public space, people cross during there everyday-life. There is no literal gate-keeping, which allows people to enter end leave the place and therefore the musical piece, whenever they like or stumble upon it.
Further the architectural design of the Joanneum Quarter introduces natural delays and phasing shifts as sound waves bounce off its curved glass structures as well as from the surrounding walls. This means that a e.g. melody played in one location may sound different depending on where a listener is standing. And because of time delays the layering of melodies result differently at different locations. As audience members walk through the space, their perception of the music changes, creating a dynamic and personal auditory experience.
Creating immersion via interfaces
Beyond the organic interaction caused by movement, the project considers additional ways to involve audiences directly in the performance. One may be the installation of interfaces:
By incorporating technical solutions such as speaker controls or digital interfaces, visitors can influence the composition itself. Simple adjustments—such as modifying the volume of different speakers—allow participants to shape their own experience. A more complex approach could involve digital interfaces, such as iPads placed around the space, where participants can select different musical elements for each acoustic funnel, effectively curating their own version of the performance.
Sources:
“Joanneumsviertel,”accessed January 22, 2025, https://www.museum-joanneum.at/ihr-besuch/museen-standorte/joanneumsviertel.