Informatics: it’s the future. This study of ‘the structure, algorithms, behaviour, and interactions of natural and artificial computational systems’ has been around since 1957, when German computer scientist Karl Steinbuch coined the word, ‘Informatik.’ Edinburgh University has just built itself a suitably sci-fi looking School of Informatics on the site of what used to be Bristo Square car park. Which, by-the-by, was itself laid down roughly where counter-culture guru Jim Haynes opened the UK’s first ever paperback bookshop, eventually birthing The Traverse Theatre.
As good a cultural hot-spot, then, to host Episode Two of this year’s ninth Dialogues festival of new, electronically generated music. Following Episode One in May with Norwegian prog improvisors Puma, and last week’s pilot event featuring Thomas Stronem and Mr McFall’s Chamber’s bike-related ‘Cycle,’ Episode Two is spread out over three short concerts featuring an array of knob-twiddling eclectica.
“Informatics is in every aspect of music,” says Dialogues artistic director Martin Parker, “from the way classical music is recorded onto hard drive, to what we’re doing at the other end of the spectrum, turning computers inside out.”
Proceedings begin with Michael Edwards ‘Electric Cowboy Cacophony,’ a free-wheeling mash-up of laptop, electric guitar, bluegrass banjo and classical piano. The following night presents German avant-provocateur Christoph Ogiermann’s politically charged ‘Exhautions!’ Then on November 22nd, percussionist Joby Burgess’ Powerplant project presents new works by Graham Fitkin and Gabriel (grand-son of Sergei) Prokofiev. On the first night, a side stage (not a fringe) will host four acts curated by Lin Zhang of local live noise promoters, Grind Sight Open Eye.
Parker describes this as “an edgy compliment” to the main event, which will “bring people in to events they might not normally go to, and show how everything relates.”
Nestled at a sideways angle to Scotland’s other left-field music events, since its inception in 1999, Dialogues has retained a nomadic, peripatetic edge.
“There’s something about things not getting too big that keeps things interesting,” says Parker. “Dialogues is trying to get people to do things they wouldn’t normally be allowed to. I like it being inconsistent. Which may be foolish, but it works for me.”
University of Edinburgh School of Informatics, Bristo Square, 15-16 and 22nd November
www.dialogues-festival.org
The List, November 2008
ends
As good a cultural hot-spot, then, to host Episode Two of this year’s ninth Dialogues festival of new, electronically generated music. Following Episode One in May with Norwegian prog improvisors Puma, and last week’s pilot event featuring Thomas Stronem and Mr McFall’s Chamber’s bike-related ‘Cycle,’ Episode Two is spread out over three short concerts featuring an array of knob-twiddling eclectica.
“Informatics is in every aspect of music,” says Dialogues artistic director Martin Parker, “from the way classical music is recorded onto hard drive, to what we’re doing at the other end of the spectrum, turning computers inside out.”
Proceedings begin with Michael Edwards ‘Electric Cowboy Cacophony,’ a free-wheeling mash-up of laptop, electric guitar, bluegrass banjo and classical piano. The following night presents German avant-provocateur Christoph Ogiermann’s politically charged ‘Exhautions!’ Then on November 22nd, percussionist Joby Burgess’ Powerplant project presents new works by Graham Fitkin and Gabriel (grand-son of Sergei) Prokofiev. On the first night, a side stage (not a fringe) will host four acts curated by Lin Zhang of local live noise promoters, Grind Sight Open Eye.
Parker describes this as “an edgy compliment” to the main event, which will “bring people in to events they might not normally go to, and show how everything relates.”
Nestled at a sideways angle to Scotland’s other left-field music events, since its inception in 1999, Dialogues has retained a nomadic, peripatetic edge.
“There’s something about things not getting too big that keeps things interesting,” says Parker. “Dialogues is trying to get people to do things they wouldn’t normally be allowed to. I like it being inconsistent. Which may be foolish, but it works for me.”
University of Edinburgh School of Informatics, Bristo Square, 15-16 and 22nd November
www.dialogues-festival.org
The List, November 2008
ends
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