Messy Polyphonies

Messy Polyphonies is a search for individual and collective sound production through states of deep listening and sounding in a group. By building and sensing a shared (but not necessarily identical) acoustic space, intuitive polyphony will be created. This sounding together will encourage notions of “mess”, dissonance and intensity. Tools enabling us to perceive sound as matter that can be segmented, shaped and shared will be taught during this workshop. We will also investigate resonant spaces inside of us, between us and around us that can be used for creating vocal sound layers. We will explore different resonant spaces within a larger, shared resonant space and we will practice to vocally inhabit and share space while supporting the sound streams of others. How can we piece together our voices, polyphonic songs and choreographies while improvising? To help us explore these possibilities, we will employ techniques of deep listening and quiet sound production, such as whispering and glottal stops, as well as loud sound production, like talking, singing and screaming… Despite or due to the “mess” generated by our individual sounding, we will produce a harmonious unity within these messy polyphonies.