Rupert Huber - Music of Encounters Rotunda Project Nr. 11

Music comes to life between people. That is the guiding principle of the musician, composer and music artist Rupert Huber. He has created a piece of music in dialogue with Ars Electronica Solutions especially for the Rotunda of the Pinakothek der Moderne, which is performed by the museum’s visitors. It is their movements that trigger the melodic sequences of the composition, creating the music of encounters.

‘Social Music’ is the term for Rupert Huber’s musical-spatial format in which human encounters are transformed into music. ‘Social Music’ expands the traditional musical system of temporal development and pitch to include the realm of the possible, not the predetermined.

The ‘Music of Encounters’ is likewise based on being able to incorporate unpredictable events into a composition - by means of interaction: a person moves, a sensor detects their movement and triggers a melodic tone sequence. In this way, several people create a kind of symphony: their encounter is not only orchestrated,it is the basis of the music installation - a symphony of people coming together. The sounds are adapted to the architectural situation of the rotunda in the Pinakothek der Moderne; the proportions of the space determine the harmonisation of the voices. Rupert Huber (*1967) is based in Vienna and works internationally. Innovative approaches and new forms of musical expression make him an important figure in the contemporary music scene. As a composer, he is best known for his music installations, the electronic music project ‘tosca’ and his piano pieces. To him, music is communication and a contribution to mutual understanding.