A sound artist concentrating on compositions that aim to connect people's perceptions with their sense of place, Robert Jarvis’ shortlisted proposal is a musical composition for a ‘choir’ of bats using detectors placed at the London Wetland Centre. A sound artist concentrating on compositions that aim to connect people's perceptions with their sense of place, Robert Jarvis’ shortlisted proposal is a musical composition for a ‘choir’ of bats using detectors placed at the London Wetland Centre.
The bat detectors will be located in optimum positions around the reserve to receive the ultrasonic biosonar calls of the bats that visit each night (up to 10,000 at peak times). These signals will be transmitted to a sound manipulating computer which will then record, process and sequence the sounds according to an algorithmic composition created by Robert. The result, heard in situ continuously for four months, will be a four-dimensional experience based on the previous night’s activity, and therefore never the same twice. Listeners will be able hear the composition through multiple speakers, as well as move through the sound field to experience the music fly around them.
A multi-functioning work, Echolocation is both a responsive piece that pushes at the boundaries of what is technically possible with work of this nature and one which will also have an impact on current research into bat behaviour.
Robert Jarvis works as a sound artist creating compositions that encourage people to rethink their environments and question how they relate to their surroundings. His works range from surround-sound gallery pieces to site-specific permanent outdoor installations, as well as smaller, more intimate works. In recent years his work has received recognition through the British Composer Awards (winner of the New Media Category, 2005 and 2006) and the British Council.
“Echolocation made us question what the essence of a particular sound actually is.” New Music Award panel