Thursday Club presents Derek Holzer: TONEWHEELS — Experiments in Opto-Electronic Synthesis and Graphical Sound [TBC] :: March 19, 2009; 6:00 – 8:00 pm :: Seminar Rooms, Ben Pimlott Building, Goldsmiths University of London, London, UK.

TONEWHEELS is an experiment in converting graphical imagery to sound, inspired by some of the pioneering 20th Century electronic music instruments such as the Variophone [Evgeny Scholpo (USSR) 1930], the Welte Light-Tone Organ [Edwin Emil Welte (DE) 1936], the ANS Synthesizer [Evgeny Murzin (USSR) 1958], and the Oramics system [Daphne Oram (UK) 1959].

Transparent tonewheels with repeating patterns are spun over light-sensitive electronic circuitry to produce sound and light pulsations and textures. This all-analog set is performed entirely live without the use of computers, using only overhead projectors as light source, performance interface and audience display. In this way, TONEWHEELS aims to open up the “black box” of electronic music and video by exposing the working processes of the performance for the audience to see.

DEREK HOLZER is a sound artist with a background in radio, webstreaming and environmental recording. His work focuses on capturing and transforming small, unnoticed sounds from various natural and urban locations, networked collaboration strategies, experiments in improvisational sound, self-made analog electronics and the use of free software such as Pure-Data. He has released tracks under the Nexsound, Sirr, and/OAR and Gruenrekorder labels, and has co-initiated several internet projects for field recording and collaborative soundscapes including Soundtransit.nl. Holzer has performed live in many venues and festivals in Europe, the US and Brazil.