This work takes as its point of departure the sounds of human voices from different religious ceremonies. Among them are Tibetan and Mahayana buddhist monks, Japanese shomyo and African native song. These voices were treated to a variety of digital signal processes and combined with other digital and analog sounds. This work was recorded directly to 8-track analog tape without the use of computer sequencing programs. The inspiration for the piece is the strange hypnotic power and evocative beauty of the human voice and mankind’s eternal appeal to “higher forces”. The opening voice is by Alain Presencer from his Saydisc recording, “The Singing Bowls of Tibet” and is used with kind permission.

[source: Réseaux des arts médiatiques]

Ode to the South-facing Form won the Stockholm Electronic Arts Award in 1992.

Awards

• Prize, Stockholm Electronic Arts Award 1992, Stockholm (Sweden)