This piece was one of my favorites. Mr. Bischoff's sounds and combinations were very mature and nourishing. Although you can listen the heavy synthesis on Max/Msp, everything sounds very light and "small". The performance consists on a series of small objects set on a table. All of then bent or prepared with microphones and wires to be processed by the computer. He starts touching and playing with this objects in a very sutil manner. Small movements of hand and fingers begin to generate continuos build up of textures on the background. Granular growth, but still very organic.
Listen to the piece AUDIO COMBINE.
Mr. Bischoff is very important for the experimental music scene since he's been active in performing, researching and teaching for over 30 years now. Here are some pictures and info on his older works.
The League of Automatic Composers in performance Fort Mason, San Francisco in 1980
L > R: Tim Perkis, Jim Horton, John Bischoff
Photo: Peter Abramowitsch
Bio (from his website)
JOHN BISCHOFF (b. 1949, San Francisco) is an early
pioneer of live computer music. He is known for his solo constructions in real-time synthesis as well as his ground-breaking work in computer network bands. Bischoff's music is built from intrinsic features of the electronic medium: high definition noise components, tonal edges, imperfections, transitions, digital shading, and non-linear motion. Through empirical play and investigation he builds pieces that can be described as sonic sculptures, shaped in real-time. He has been active in the experimental music scene in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 year as a composer, performer, teacher, and grassroots activist.
