Resonance FM intervention at the Gasometer Oberhausen

the gasometer standing tall at 117m height

For what is likely to be the last intervention of the radio.territories project Resonance 104.4fm has teamed up with the Dutch Art Institute to produce an evening of experimental radio and sound works in the Gasometer in Oberhausen (Germany). The event is called KlangLangWelle

The gasometer is the biggest of its kind in the world, with a diameter of 68 meters and a height of 117 meters. The sheer size and the extreme acoustics make it a unique location that in the past has been used for exhibitions by the likes of Christo and Jean-Claude or Bill Viola.

The giant steel cylinder can also be considered as a big Faraday cage, meaning that it is difficult for radio waves to penetrate inside, but also that radio emmissions from within the gasometer will bounce off its walls almost like sound waves. The gasometer is ready for its own, enclosed radio station.

With this set-up in mind, 30 students from the Dutch Art Institute will spend a week with Resonance's workshop leaders Sarah Washington and Knut Aufermann, to create works for radio transmitter and 30 portable radios. They will form the Dutch Art Institute Radio Orchestra (DAIRO).

Their pieces will be performed live in the Gasometer Oberhausen as part of a concert evening on the 29th September 2006. The event, which also features the extraordinary British saxophonist John Butcher, and the electronics trio Tonic Train + Xentos starts at 19:00 h, entrance fee is 4 Euros. The roof of the gasometer will stay open for the audience after the concert until 22:00 h.

A special radio edition recording of the evening will be made available for broadcast later.