What is the sound of ancient vessels singing?

Overview

Vessel Orchestra, by Oliver Beer, was exhibited at the Met Breuer in the summer of 2019.

”Vessel Orchestra is the first sound-based installation commissioned by The Met. Hybrid by design, it is a musical instrument, a series of live performances, and an installation composed of thirty-two sculptures, utilitarian vessels, and decorative objects from the Museum collection. Selected for their natural pitches, which range from low C to high G on the chromatic musical scale, they form an arresting and unexpectedly versatile instrument, similar to an organ with multiple pipes.

The Vessel Orchestra has two distinct modes. During Museum hours, a pre-programmed audio interface will play a new composition written by Beer, activating the vessels in real time—“player piano-style.” On Friday evenings, the exhibition will feature a diverse group of guest artists who will perform new compositions and improvisations on this radical musical instrument in a series of intimate concerts. All performances on Friday evenings.” — The Met Breuer

My Role

I supported the exhibition’s creative technology team in production and adaptation of a Max/MSP system, custom fabrication of the microphones that produce the resonant feedback pitches, and installed the hardware/software in the gallery.