48th meeting, Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Pärtel Lippus
Wednesday, November 26th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month we take helikoosolek back into the realm of scientific research with a visit from Pärtel Lippus. Partel is a researcher of Estonian phonetics at the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, and studied linguistics at the University of Tartu (PhD in 2011 on the Estonian quantity system).

As a phonetician Pärtel studies how linguistic information is encoded in the sound signal when we speak. He will tell us a little about how speech is generated, physiologically: how vocal cords generate the pitch and how the different sounds are made by changing the shape of the mouth. This way of describing the vocal tract is called the source-filter model and can be also used in speech synthesis. Using re-synthesis (separating the "source" and "filter" of a speech recording) he will show how we can change the meaning of a word or a sentence just by changing the duration of the sounds and the pitch movement. Of course changing pitch works only when we are speaking with a regular modal voice. Sometimes our voice can also be breathy or creaky. Creaky voice can have different meanings in different cultures, being a social marker in US English while in Estonian everybody creaks.

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

47th meeting, Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
Lights-Out Listening Session
Wednesday, October 29th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month, as autumn weather sets in and the temperature drops, we will hunker down for a bit of sonic hibernation. Our regular host Patrick McGinley curates a Lights-Out Listening Session featuring recent favorite submissions to his framework radio program, "consecrated to field recording and its use in composition."  We will listen in full to these long works, sonic compositions making use of field recordings and real-world acoustic sound captures, in our usual space, transformed from a lecture room to our own autumnal den, darkened and arranged with cushions and pillows for comfortable listening in a comfortable position. Tea will be provided!

Participants are encouraged to bring recordings that they feel may be appropriate for addition to the playlist, their own pillows for sitting or lying on the floor, and biscuits. We will darken the room as much as possible, but participants could also bring something to cover their eyes if they wish.

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms.  The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback.  Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

46th meeting, Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Kimmo Modig
Wednesday, September 24th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

Image by Jack Balance for Coconut Disco, a theatre play directed by Katariina Numminen, with sound design by Kimmo Modig (Ars 11, Kiasma, Helsinki, 2011).

This month our guestis Finnish writer, performance artist and sound designer Kimmo Modig, currently an artist-in-residence at MoKS in Mooste, who describes his visit with us thusly:

Kimmo Modig: Me & My Work ♥
Hi, I'm Kimmo Modig, an artist from Helsinki. I talk for a living basically but I'm also a sound designer. For Helikoosolek in Tartu, I will talk about sound design in video art. I will show you how things like unsync, noise, kitschy sound effects, and other such concepts play out in my practice. It'll be tons of fun I promise so I hope to see you there.

Check out my home page: kimmomodig.com

More info on Kimmo and his work can be found in this interview from 2013.

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

45th meeting, Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Veljo Runnel
Wednesday, August 27th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month we welcome Estonian nature recordist and biologist Veljo Runnel for his third visit to helikoosolek, the last one being back in late 2012 when he presented the relaunch online portal for Estonian animal sounds, Kõrv loodusesse (Ear into Nature). This year he released a new album featuring recordings from the Emajõe-Suursoo, will will be the basis of his visit:

Discovering the soundscapes of Emajõe-Suursoo

Sounds of a particular location in nature can be as diverse and changing as nature itself. I learned this through frequent trips to Emajõe-Suursoo over two years. It resulted in a nature sound album and many hours of material not heard on the album. For this helikoosolek I will play samples from the album and we will discuss what constitutes the acoustic identity of a location.

Veljo Runnel is a biologist, but also studied psychology at the University of Tartu. He started sound recording in 1999, with as his main interests the sounds of animals and natural soundscapes, but also auditory perception in general and the interpretation of the sonic world. He has been running workshops for teachers and nature interpreters for learning about biodiversity in nature, and also workshops in nature photography and sound recording.

He has released several nature sound CDs with The Estonian Fund for Nature.

http://www.loodusheli.ee
http://naturesoundscapes.eu

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

44th meeting, Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Ernst Karel
Wednesday, July 30th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month we are pleased to welcome back returning helikoosolek guest Ernst Karel. Ernst joined us a few years back to present his amazing recordings of Swiss mountain transport. This month he returns to present recordings from his fungal work-in-progress (and hopefully to take advantage of Estonia's copious fungi himself), Mycological.

Mycological is an experimental nonfiction sound piece which listens in on communities engaged in naturalistic observation and analysis. The piece takes as its subject certain aspects of human encounters with fungi. Genetically more similar to animals than to plants, fungi nearly always coexist in symbiotic, mycorrhizal relationships with other life forms and thus index above all interconnectedness. Mycology is unusual among the sciences in that advances in the field have historically been made by both professionals and amateurs, and these two groups have likewise been interdependent in the creation of mycological knowledge. The Boston Mycological Club, founded in 1895, is the longest running amateur mycological club in the U.S., with a growing active membership. While members often join initially out of a desire to safely forage for wild mushrooms, many develop fascinations which go far beyond the edible fruiting bodies, to the ecological and morphological aspects of fungi more generally. This piece was recorded in biology labs and the herbaria at Harvard University, and during forays with the Boston Mycological Club, and listens in on social processes of observation and knowledge production.

Ernst Karel's multidimensional audio work includes electroacoustic improvisation and composition, location recording, sound for nonfiction vilm, and solo and collaborative sound installations. Using analog electronics and location recordings, either separately or in combination, Karel creates audio pieces that move between the abstract and the documentary.

Karel, based in Boston in the northeastern U.S., is currently technical advisor and sound engineer for Non-Event, and lab manager for the Sensory Ethnography Lab at Harvard University, where as Lecturer on Anthropology, he teaches a course in sonic ethnography.

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

43rd meeting, Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Raivo Sildoja
Wednesday, May 28th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month's helikoosolek features a visit from pre-eminent traditional instrument builder and musician Raivo Sildoja. Raivo will tell us how and why he began building instruments, and will demonstrate different tools and materials used in their construction. He will show us new and old instruments, as well as play some us some tunes on his own along with his wife, Krista Sildoja.

Raivo Sildoja was born in Pärnu, and studied in both Pärnu and Viljandi. From 1989-2004 he was involved with the folk music department at Viljandi Cultural College, first studying violin and hiiu kannel, and later working there as a teacher. In 2004-5 he worked as a freelance music teacher and musician, also working at the G. Otsa Music School teaching folk music and folk instrument history, and giving lectures-concerts through the Estonian Traditional Music Center.

Since 1995 he has been building folk music instruments, it being his exclusive employment from 1995-2005. He makes kannels, hiiu kannels, and maintains and repairs other string instruments. From 2005-2011 he lived and worked in Iceland as a music teacher, on the western fjörds in the village of Thingeyri. He returned to Estonia in 2011, concentrating again on instrument construction and repair. In 2012 he moved his workshop to the Mooste Manor, where he lives and works now at the Mooste Folk Music School.

For more information on Raivo and his work, visit his website at http://www.kannel.ee.

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms.  The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback.  Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

42nd meeting, Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
KÕRVal-Tartu
Wednesday, April 30th
6-8pm
!!! AND special event: Tartu soundwalk on Friday, May 2nd at noon !!!
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

This month's helikoosolek, and our special Friday event, have been planned in conjunction with ERM's current multimedia installation, Kõrvuti, which focuses on human perspective and interaction with and in urban space.

For this month's regular meeting we'll be taking a global tour of urban soundscapes, exploring the differences and similarities of the sounds of the world's cities. Using the resource of the Aporee Soundmaps, we'll follow our noses around the globe, exploring sounds by location and/or theme, telling stories and retracing footsteps. Bring you own experience and requests and help us plan our journey!

We'll also be exploring the local soundscape of the city of Tartu with a Tartu city soundquiz! How well do you know the sounds of your city? Come and find out; and yes, there will be prizes!

Also, on Friday, May 2nd, as part of our special KÕRVal-Tartu program, will be exploring the sounds of Tartu directly, with a Tartu city soundwalk. We'll explore some of the most famous and more hidden sounds of the city from the perspective of our ears. Our walk will comprise several different techniques, solo and group walks with eyes open and closed, and extended listening 'soundsits' in a few chosen locations. We'll be meeting in the ERM café at noon and departing from there. Dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes!
helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

41st meeting, Wednesday, March 26th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
workshop: One Square Meter
Wednesday, March 26th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

One Square Meter is a project in sonic micro-exploration. A participant chooses a small space and attempts to uncover the many different sonic perspectives that can be found within it. Armed with a sound recorder and an array of microphones (omnidirectional, miniature, contact microphones, hydrophones, etc), the participant zooms in on the aural possibilities of a single defined area, recording within a small radius, and creating a study of it's many resonances.

For this helikoosolek, our regular host Patrick McGinley will present the outcome of a few past One Square Meter recording projects, and then lead our recording parties out of our usual meeting room to choose one or two nearby spaces for some One Square Meter recording of our own. Afterwards we will reconvene et ERM to listen to the results. Participants will then also have the option of creating an online project map via the Aporee Soundmaps.

A few examples of past projects can be found on Aporee: this one, from Maribor, Slovenia, and this one, from Taipei, Taiwan.

We will provide as many recorders and microphones as we can, but if you have your own, please bring them along! We will choose indoor or outdoor locations for recording as weather permits, so please dress appropriately. 

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

40th meeting, Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
featuring Generaadio
Wednesday, February 26th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

Next month sees the official launch of Tartu's new independent radio station, Generaadio. For this meeting we invite Generaadio's organiser Kärt Rebane and a selection of it's volunteers and program makers to join us for an open discussion on the form and format of independent radio, it's role in the community, and the possibilities for this first stages of it's formation. Kärt will tell us how the project came about, what went into it's inception, and how the core group was put together. Generaadio program makers will present their shows (including Raadio Helikoosolek!), and we'll hear some audio excerpts. Generaadio will be looking for comments, suggestions, and discussion, and are always looking for more people to get involved in this exciting new project, so if you'd like to be involved with independent radio right here in Tartu this is a great opportunity to meet the folks behind it all!

helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee

39th meeting, Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

helikoosolek:tartu
with Antti Tolvi
Wednesday, January 29th
6-8pm
Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Tartu

Well folks, i'm very excited to announce the plans for our first helikoosolek of 2014!

Helikoosolek regulars will be familiar with a certain beautifully out of tune piano in the corner of the lecture hall at ERM where we meet. Over the years it has been used, purposefully and spontaneously, for various gatherings and activities, and i've always dreamed of using it more thoroughly.

So imagine my excitement when a new double LP of stunningly beautiful piano music, by Finnish musician and good friend Antti Tolvi, arrived in my mailbox.

Antti has accepted our invitation to join us for our january helikoosolek and perform on our wonderful ERM piano. It will be a relaxed, intimate, hypnotic acoustic performance, not one to be missed. Below you'll find a link to an extract from the aforementioned album, and you'll see what i mean. And for those of you in Tallinn who can't make it down, he'll also be playing a few days later (on the 31st) at Ptarmigan, so you won't miss out. Better yet, come to both!

What's more, not only is Antti a great musician, but he is also a student of Tao and Zen, and is a professional Tai Chi teacher.He will begin our meeting with a few breathing and stretching exercises (Qigong) to focus on how physical movement and meditation can lead to deeper listening and heightened perception. This will prepare us for his piano performance.

You can here a sample of Antti's pianowork here:


And another from Fonal Records here:


And here's some text from the Fonal Records site, about Antti and his piano-work:

Antti Tolvi is a self-taught, multi-talented musician. He has played in numerous bands including Lau Nau, Rauhan Orkesteri, and Lauhkeat Lampaat. Born in ’77 in Panelia on the west coast of Finland, he began making music with his brothers, untutored. From 2000-2001 he studied classical Indian music in Varanasi, and this marked a turning point in his perception of music. On returning to his native Finland, he became embroiled in Free Jazz for a number of years, until a recent relocation to the countryside pushed him ever more towards solo improvisation – deriving inspiration from, in Antti’s own words, “harmonies, overtones, going into sound, no ends, no starts, from nothing comes something, just perfect, peace”. 

‘Pianoketo’ can be seen as a culmination of Antti’s musical experiences to date. Featuring three extended meditations on a theme, all played on solo piano, it is a sound that defies categorisation, with nods towards classical, avant-garde, improvisation, psych, free jazz and Indian music. A shimmering flux of tones and harmonies, each of Pianoketo’s pieces seem to collect notes as they gather momentum, expanding and shifting form as Antti breathes life into them. At times, it is almost as if there are two instruments, the overtones working like feedback, playing counter-melodies as notes weave through each other. Antti’s technique combines neatly with the personality of the instrument to convey an evocative, psychedelic nostalgia. 

He expands: “This record was recorded with binaural microphones, attached to the players ears. While playing, as you move your body or head, there is a ‘flanger’ effect - that's why the overtones are really flying. There’s no overdubs, effects or EQ. 

My main instruments have been saxophones, clarinets, flutes and all kind of wind instruments. In Pianoketo I play piano as I play saxophone. Just using 11 notes. Because I don't have to blow, I can focus more on other things. And actually soon I don't have to focus on anything, just listen to what my fingers are doing. It's amazing to find new melodies, harmonies, drones, rhythms or whatever. And then I can follow that for a while, and then just let go and wait for a new direction. 

This piano had not been played for more than 40 years, so the tuning had dropped “a little”. I tuned some notes, to get more overtones. Most of the notes have found their own resting place over the years, just resonating in sounds and vibes at Grandma’s.

So spread the word, and put Wednesday, January 29th, 6pm at ERM on your calendar for our 2014 opening meeting/performance with Antti Tolvi! Oh, and lest i forget to mention, as always it's FREE!

Helikoosolek:tartu is a regular gathering for the exploration of sound in all forms. The meetings comprise presentations, concerts, workshops, discussions, and field trips pertaining to sound and its consideration in art, music, architecture, ecology, philosophy, social and cultural interaction, and any other context that presents itself. Participants are encouraged to propose activities or discussions on topics of their interest, or to present projects of their own for feedback. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of each month, from 6-8pm at the Eesti Rahva Muuseum.

Helikoosolek:tartu is organised by Patrick McGinley and supported by Eesti Rahva Muuseum and Tartu Linnavalitsus.

http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/helikoosolek
http://www.erm.ee