Displacements for Oscillator Ensemble

Displacements for Oscillator Ensemble

“In this work, I am interested in the notion of displacement, both in a sonic sense, where sine waves generated by the oscillators shift in relation to one another, creating beats and other phenomena, and in a performative sense, as the ensemble, in addition to myself, will consist of local, retired (B&O) engineers. The ensemble members have operated these machines countless times before, but in this work they will operate them as part of an artistic statement. My hope is that both the audience and the ensemble will experience a shift in perspective, in which the boundaries between sound art and engineering music become more fluid, creating a sense of community across generations and allowing us to listen to one another in new ways.

Although the oscillators are no longer used for industrial purposes, they have long been part of experimental music, where they have been used as musical instruments. In this work, I want to bring the language of industry and the language of music into dialogue by notating the music in the form of a musical score, inspired by the original oscillator manual. In this way, the score will be familiar to the performers, while being put to use in an entirely different context.” – Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard

Sound Art Lab (SAL), in collaboration with Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard, has collected nine vintage B&O TG7 oscillators (tone generators), which will become part of Sound Art Lab’s facilities. Sound Art Lab wishes to mark this occasion with the work Displacements for Oscillator Ensemble, composed by Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard. The work will be performed by an ensemble consisting of Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard and three local, now retired, engineers who originally operated the oscillators.

The hope is that this will be the first commissioned work in a series of several new works commissioned from a diverse range of composers.

Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard has created several works designed to be performed by open ensembles consisting of volunteers, with or without prior musical experience. Examples include his Triangular Mass, in which a large ensemble plays triangles together, and Birdsongs – a feedback study composed for multiple parabolic microphones. Displacements for Oscillator Ensemble thus continues Løkkegaard’s interest in creating works with an inclusive potential.

The work will premiere at Sound Art Lab.