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Softday '“The likely interconnectedness of all things possible, |
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Since 1999 visual artist Seán Taylor and computer software designer Mikael Fernström (aka SOFTDAY) have collaborated on a number of high profile science/art projects. Both artists are interested in exploring ‘the cracks’ between various media such as expanded theatre, sound art, sculpture, music, dance and the application of new technologies. In 2000 the artists presented a computer-generated musical composition entitled Blian le Báisteach (A Year With Rain), played by the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University Concert Hall, in Limerick. The composition was constructed using rainfall data supplied by Met Éireann for the year 1999-2000. This rainfall data was converted into music using a series of specifically designed neural networks and algorithms, trained by a database of traditional Irish melodies. The concert was web-cast live from the University Concert Hall and the work was also showcased in the Irish Pavilion for EXPO 2000 in Hanover, Germany. This CD/ROM was released in 2000. In 2002 the artists’ second collaborative project entitled Cóisir an tSionann (The Shannon Suite) was performed by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Daghda Dance Company and the Berlin-based choir ‘Der Brullchor’ (the Roaring Choir), in the Turbine Hall of Ardnacrusha Power Station, Co. Clare. A CD of this work was released on the Softday label in December 2002. Síonna Festival of Traditional Music and Dance commissioned Bawnmore Suite - Common Ground, a multi-media performance art work, to mark 2003 as the Year of the Disabled. It was performed at the Brothers of Charity Bawnmore Campus by Kenneth Edge, the Bawnmore Ensemble, Lucernarium and the Irish String Orchestra directed by Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. In 2005 the artists completed a commission for RTÉ lyric fm entitled ‘TXTULTR’, which was premiered live by the Softday Ensemble, Daghdha Dance Company and staff of RTÉ lyric fm on the Horizons radio programme in May 2005, and the CD/ROM was released on the Softday label. In 2010 Softday were commissioned to write Marbh Chrois (Dead Zone), as part of the Lovely Weather Residencies, organized by Donegal County Council’s Public Art Office in partnership with Leonardo/OLATS. This is a computer generated music composition, constructed using marine data mapping two ‘contested’ marine Dead Zones in Killybegs Harbour and Donegal Bay. It was performed by the Donegal Youth Orchestra, with conductor Vincent Kennedy, the Softday Ceili Band and St.Catherine’s Marching Band, Killybegs. The Contemporary Music Centre launched a unique 2GB USB Fish artefact created by Softday for their Marbh Chrios (Dead Zone) project at its Platform for Performance space in 2011. In 2011 Softday were selected as prize winners of the prestigious project EUROPE – A SOUND PANORAMA, and they performed their work in a live concert at ZKM (Kubus). The concert was recorded by Deutschlandradio Kultur. They are currently working on a new multimedia sound art composition/project entitled ‘Amhrán na Beacha’ (Song of the Bees). The live premiere of this new work will take place in Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co. Limerick in the spring of 2013. (biography © Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland) |
| Composer web site: www.softday.ie |
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