Measurement Music: ‘Sonification’ as tool for uncovering patterns in data

Abstract:Musical listening to datasets from outside of music can provide a way into understanding behaviors at multiple time scales.  Whether it be global economic trends, atmospheric CO2 changes over glacial-interglacial cycles, or seemingly mundane events such as the ripening of fruit, sonification presents a means of representing patterns and processes in the natural world and within human societies.  In this workshop, Chris Chafe will lead a discussion of the practice and application of sonification in a wide array of disciplines, drawing on his own extensive experience in this field.  Using examples from a variety of datasets, he will show how sonification can lead to the creation of innovative new musical pieces, and to a deeper understanding of many natural and human-influenced phenomena.  The presentation will be followed by a hands-on tutorial, where participants will work with software tools to explore sonification of their own datasets.
Speaker:Chris Chafe is a composer, improviser and cellist, and the Director of Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics.  An active performer in both physical and web-based spaces, his music reaches audiences in dozens of countries and novel venues. Gallery and museum music installations include “musifications” resulting from collaborations with artists, scientists and MD’s. Recent work includes the Brain Stethoscope project, PolarTide for the 2013 Venice Biennale, Tomato Quintet for the transLife:media Festival at the National Art Museum of China and Sun Shot played by the horns of large ships in the port of St. Johns, Newfoundland.
This is a free public event.The presentation will be followed by an optional hands-on tutorial, where participants will work with software tools to explore sonification of their own datasets.
Those who would like to participate in the tutorial portion will be required to bring their own laptop, and can download the required software here: https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~cc/sonify/
Please register for this free event. Refreshments will be provided for registered guests. For more information, see the poster.University Centre, Seminar Room (307), 6331 Crescent Road, Vancouver