Husband and wife musical duo Barton and Priscilla McLean will bring the interactive multimedia music installation, “Ultimate Symphonius 2000,” to Wake Forest University’s Brendle Recital Hall on March 13-16.
“Ultimate Symphonius 2000” will open with a lecture/demonstration by the McLeans at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 13. The installation will be open from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. March 14 and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 15.
On March 16, the McLeans, composers/performers known as the McLean Mix, will give a concert titled, “The McLean Mix: Inside the Time Machine,” at 8 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall.
Admission to the installation and the concert is free.
The hands-on exhibit is a combination of original synthesizer music and a collage of materials representing the past 2000 years of music.
The basic format is much like an interactive “discovery museum.” Participants enter the space and go to any of eight stations, where they can play notes on a keyboard, sing into a microphone, create sound effects using a mixing board or change the overall sound in various other ways.
The music content includes 300 recorded excerpts from early Greek music to the indigenous music of South America, Africa and Asia. While on field trips, the McLeans personally recorded much of the music.
In addition to the principle medium of sound, “Ultimate Symphonius 2000” makes extensive use of multiple slides and virtual reality interactive video.
Keyboard magazine said that “the McLeans may be leading the way toward whatever lies beyond in their powerful, organic/synthetic sound mixes, and unorthodoxÖ concept.”
The McLeans have brought their music/media performances and installations to venues across the United States and in several European countries. Known as pioneers in developing electronic music techniques, they have received six National Endowment for the Arts grants and their music has been performed at many major music festivals. They have produced eight CDs and have taught at several universities, including the University of Hawaii, the University of Texas and Indiana University.
The concert and installation are part of “Science and Technology: The Next Millennium,” a yearlong series of events devoted to exploring science and technology.
The installation will also be open for additional daytime hours during the week. Call 758-5026 for a complete schedule.
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