David Tudor: Rainforest IV
Workshop hans w. koch & Matt Rogalsky
Intensive workshop with selection process
Tutors: hans w. koch, Matt Rogalsky
When: 20–28 July 2025, concert/performances on 27 July 2025
Application deadline: 1 March 2025
Prerequisites for participation: A practice as composer-performer working with either soft- or hardware based electronics which can generate and/or play back a wide range of sounds; experience in collaborative and improvisational work and an ear for the right moment to be silent. 🤫
Tech requirements (to be brought by participants): Electronic instrument or computer with two independent line outputs – each participant will be responsible for sending sounds to one or two objects.
Please note that this is an intensive workshop which means that you probably won’t be able to attend other workshops and classes on workshop days.
After having been selected for the workshop, participants must register regularly for participation in the Darmstadt Summer Course (either for composition, for one of the instrumental studios or for a Wildcard). Online booking will be opened afterwards to the chosen participants. For instrumental studios, the respective conditions of participation apply.
About the project
Found, converted or constructed objects are arranged as an ensemble in a spatial installation. Transducers attached to the objects allow the performers to activate them with sounds of their own choice, with the goal of creating, in Tudor’s words, “an electronic ecosystem“. Due to the specific resonance frequencies of each object, each one is like a very unique loudspeaker. The composition, the selection of the objects and the arrangement in space create a lush and freely accessible „rainforest“ of sounds that arise from everyday life.
In the words of Ron Kuivila:
Between 1966 and 1972, David Tudor composed a series of pieces entitled “Rainforest”, which bear the version numbers I-IV. The basic idea of these pieces is the development of an orchestra of sounding objects, each with its own “voice”. Both simple found objects and objects created for specific acoustic considerations can be used as objects.
The best known and most frequently performed version of this series is Rainforest IV, which was created during a summer workshop entitled “New Music in New Hampshire”. This version is about developing an environment from Rainforest objects. David Tudor writes: “Rainforest IV depends on exploration by the listener, the audience is invited to move freely between the sculptures.” The objects form a “walk-through environment” that blurs the distinctions between “workshop”, “installation” and “concert”.
The score consists of nothing more than a circuit and the instruction that previously composed music should not be used. According to this, any kind of music could be used in Rainforest IV, but not all music works. The sounds are developed for specific objects, i.e. they have to adapt to the acoustic properties of the respective objects. In this way, Tudor developed an open and flexible, yet highly disciplined introduction to the composition of live electronic music.
Timeline
20 July 2025, afternoon: First meeting at the venue, introduction seminar
21 July 2025, morning: first research in public space to find individual objects
21 July 2025, afternoon + evening: Expert lectures about David Tudor’s artistic practice, the Rainforest Series, the Composers Inside Electronics group (public)
22–25 July 2025: Realization / Composition of Rainforest at the venue
26–27 July 2025: Rehearsals and public performance
28 July 2025 and the following days: Rainforest open to visitors as an installation
(The timeline is subject to change!)
Application
To apply for this workshop, please submit One PDF file (LASTNAME_Firstname_Rainforest2025.pdf) containing the following:
- A short letter of motivation (1 page max.) telling us something about yourself, your artistic practice and why you would like to take part in the project
- 3 links to examples of your recent work: audio files or videos and scores (if existing)
- A short CV
and e-mail it by 1 March 2025 to
rainforest@darmstaedter-ferienkurse.de
Please note that we cannot consider any remarks, links, or information outside the PDF!
Applicants will be notified in March 2025.
Important: Please take note of our data protection policy and the conditions for participation for the Darmstadt Summer Course before submitting your application.