Coastlines
sound performances for modular synth2022 ff.
Coastline #49 (Duo)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl on two 0-COAST synths
Studio kHz, 1 Sep 2023
Last summer I fell into a deep crisis - not least because of the war in Ukraine - which also brought my artistic activities to a standstill. It was no longer possible for me to continue my work with my accustomed and beloved methods. I realized that I had to leave my comfort zone and enter new territory once again. But how can I compose electronic music without computers and software?
During a general "digital detox", I was searching for new possibilities. In the archives of my studio, I stumbled upon some old analogue synthesizers that I had experimented with a long time ago, like the legendary KORG MS20. By connecting the different modules – voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, function generators or modulators – with patch chords, one can create individual setups that define an instrument and it’s behaviour. However, apart from this welcome architectural openness, I found it difficult to realise my artistic ideas. These synthesizers have been designed for a genre of music that I'm not particularly interested in. In addition, many of them are equipped with keyboards, which is an absolute "no-go" for me, as it represents a concept of musical thinking based on notes, which does not play a major role for me in the field of experimental electronic music.
Make Noise 0-COAST analog synth
Setup: 3 Mar 2023 @ Studio kHz
At that time I stumbled upon the modular analogue 0-COAST synthesizer with a rather unconventional system architecture. Neither based on the classic Moog synthesizer of the "East Coast" nor on the Buchla system of the "West Coast", it tries combine the best of both worlds. Although it is possible to connect a keyboard or a MIDI sequencer, that was out of the question for me anyway.
I have to admit that it was quite a challenge to submit to a system that I had not built from scratch. And it took me a lot of sometimes frustrating experimentation to get reasonable sounds out of this little box, because the wiring possibilities are enormous. Also, the individual control signals and parameters cannot be considered in isolation, as they are interdependent. And finally, it‘s nearly impossible to recall the state of the system which cannot be stored. Everything appears quite fragile and volatile.
During my research I discovered how feedback routings can create non-linear systems with chaotic states that sound fascinating. However, this requires constant balancing of the control signals with the countless knobs. Performing live on this newly constructed 'instrument' becomes an adventure that leaves a sonic trail: It's like riding a wild horse across the Lake Constance.
The Making of Coastlines
Karlheinz Essl explains the underlying concepts and answers questions from the audience.
CERN (17 Aug 2023)
Coastline #48
Performed at the SynchroCyclotron at CERN (CH/F)
the European Center for Nuclear Research on August 18, 2023.
Coastline #47
Performed in John Ellis' former office at CERN (CH/F)
the European Center for Nuclear Research on August 18, 2023.
Coastline #46
Performed at CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) at CERN (CH/F)
the European Center for Nuclear Research on August 17, 2023.
Coastline #45
Performed in seminar room at CERN (CH/F)
the European Center for Nuclear Research on August 17, 2023.
Coastline #44
spontaneous in situ improvisation
with Karlheinz Essl (modular synth) and Andrea Nagl (dance)
Mayerhof @ Niedernondorf (A), 12 Aug 2023
Filmed by Markus Wintersberger
Coastline #43 (Talking Hands, threefold)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 8 Aug 2023
Coastline #42 (DidgYerDoo)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 4 Aug 2023
Coastline #41 @ HORN
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
STUDIO DOREN HORN, 31 Jul 2023
A film by Jack Hauser
Coastline #40 (a tempo)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 30 Jul 2023
Coastline #39 (Suite in 3 parts)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 39 Jul 2023
Coastline #39b (Knock Knock Knocking)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 29 Jul 2023
Coastline #38 (Bird Calling)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 29 Jun 2023
Coastline #37 (Granularities)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 19 Jun 2023
Coastline #36b (Strange Attractors)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 1 Jun 2023
Coastline #31 (Suite in 4 Parts)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 6 Apr 2023
Coastline #30 (Das klagende Lied)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 6 Apr 2023
Coastline #29
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 5 Apr 2023
Coastline #28
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 5 Apr 2023
Coastline #27
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 2 Feb 2023
Coastline #26
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 2 Feb 2023
Coastline #25
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Jan 2023
Coastline #24
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Jan 2023
Coastline #23
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 18 Jan 2023
Coastline #22 (Ear Ring/ing)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 18 Jan 2023
Coastline #21
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 12 Jan 2023
Coastline #20
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 12 Jan 2023
Coastline #19
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 5 Jan 2023
Coastline #18
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 5 Jan 2023
Coastline #17
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 5 Jan 2023
Coastline #16 - 3 parts
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 15 Dec 2022
Coastline #15
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 9 Dec 2022
Coastline #14
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 9 Dec 2022
Coastline #13 (Hallo Wien!)
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 10 Nov 2022
Coastline #12
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 7 Oct 2022
Coastline #11
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 7 Oct 2022
Coastline #10
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 7 Oct 2022
Coastline #9
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 28 Sep 2022
Coastline #8
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Sep 2022
Coastline #7
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 31 Aug 2022
Coastline #6
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 31 Aug 2022
Coastline #5
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 31 Aug 2022
Coastline #4
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 29 Aug 2022
Coastline #3
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Aug 2022
Coastline #2
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Aug 2022
Coastline #1
Performed live by Karlheinz Essl
Studio kHz, 26 Aug 2022
Karlheinz Essl performing Coastlines live at Studio kHz in Klosterneuburg on 4 Nov 2022
Filmed by Erwin Uhrmann
Karlheinz Essl performing Coastlines live at Künstlerhaus Vienna on 18 Oct 2022
A film by Sebastian Kubelka & Simon Essl
Free improvisations on a Make Noise 0-COAST analogue synth, patched as a generative non-linear system with internal audio feedback, performed live at Studio kHz by Karlheinz Essl. No MIDI, no keyboard, no sequencer, no arpeggiator - just a single patch with manual control of the interlocking system parameters. In this ever-growing project I am exploring different ways of interaction between a machine and a live performer.
Historical map of Klosterneuburg and the river Danube
Franz Xaver Schweickhardt, Darstellung des Erzherzogthums Österreich unter der Ens, Bd. vol. VII (1837)
Der Schriftsteller Erwin Uhrmann und der Komponist Karlheinz Essl treffen sich seit November 2022 regelmäßig zu Studiosessions, um neue Formen von echtzeit-generierter Posie und Sound experimentell zu erforschen. Karlheinz Essl verwendet dafür einen kleinen analogen Modularsynthesizer, der ohne Tastatur nur mit den Drehreglern gespielt wird. Erwin Uhrmann macht sich dazu Notizen und dichtet in Echtzeit Geschichten, Poeme und Lautgedichte.
Coastline Session #7 (Losing Voyager...)
Studio kHz, 1 Aug 2023
Obige Aufnahme entstand ohne vorherige Absprache am 1. August 2023 im Studio kHz in Klosterneuburg. An diesem Tag erfuhr die Weltöffentlichkeit, dass der Kontakt zur Raumsonde Voyager 2 abgerissen ist. Sie ist seit 1977 in den Tiefen des Weltalls unterwegs und derzeit 20 Milliarden Kilometer von der Erde entfernt. Was an diesem Tag genau passiert ist, wurde von uns in Echtzeit mit künstlerischen Mitteln erforscht.
Coastline Session #6 (Der Riss)
Studio kHz, 23 Jun 2023
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Updated: 4 Sep 2023