Output details

Crystal

Commissioned for Diamond Light Source, Crystal is a sound work composed directly from frequencies generated by the electron storage ring, a particle accelerator. It was the first in the world to be written using the data of atom injections / the sound of light in the particle accelerator as a sound source as well as the acoustic space. The work uses binaural recording from locations inside Diamond’s experimental hall, storage ring and beam lines. The Diamond Synchrotron is a rich multi-spectral sonic environment, generated by a cacophony of sounds, vibrating complex tones from the electro-magnetic and mechanical interfaces that generate the electron beam which travel at near the speed of light. The research posed the question ‘Can one capture the stem of a public space, perception of human intelligence, creativity and a unified body in sound?’

Thomas worked with researchers Michael Abbott and Guenther Rehm. Abbott invented the Mat lab software which picked up samples of atom injections at a rate of 500,000 per sample. The sound of the atom injections had a direct influence on the form and structure of the work in terms of allowing sounds to live and exist in their own time and space as well as creating an architectural and composed space.https://soundcloud.com/jo-thomas/beam-line-monitor-1

The work was designed for public engagement, education and creativity and the general public were involved at different stages, hearing excerpts of the work at open days. Since this work was produced, the sound artist Bill Fontana has used the sounds of the particle accelerator at CERN to generate a sound work. A documentary is being made about the work with filming at Diamond Light Source.

http://www.jothomas.me/en/news/view/265/JT

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2012/09/capturing-the-sound-of-light.html

http://www.thewire.co.uk/articles/9072/

http://prix2012.aec.at/prixwinner/6841/

http://www.aec.at/prix/en/gewinner/#digitalmusics

http://www.aec.at/prix/en/gewinner/

Book Chapter The New Avant-Garde: Dispatches from the Edge of Art and Science. Arthur Miller June 2013