The Morning Line's unique structure, outwardly resembling the blackened remains of a cathedral or historic monument, contains a combination of sensors, intelligent cameras, and digital controllers, along with some 41 Meyer Sound MM-4XP self-powered miniature loudspeakers to form a multichannel, interactive sound system. The resulting sophisticated technological infrastructure offers a wide range of possibilities for artists to exhibit new works.
The software architecture needed to spatialise music around the steel structure was specially developed by Tony Myatt at the Music Research Centre of England's York University. Matthew Ritchie, New York-based architecture partnership Aranda/Lasch, and the Advanced Geometry Unit of Arup collaborated to handle the pavilion's engineering. The sound system was designed by David Sheppard, whose past experience of working with Meyer Sound's MM-4 miniature loudspeakers led him to choose the self-powered version of the four-inch-square loudspeaker, MM-4XP, for The Morning Line project.
As visitors walk through the structure, they are presented with a different aspect of the soundscape. The precise effect varies from piece to piece, adding extraordinary unpredictability. "There are six distinct multi-channel audio zones within the structure, plus a seventh zone which is the instrument itself that you encounter from a distance," says Sheppard. "Some composers used every speaker as a discrete channel in their compositions, while others sent multi-channel recordings for Tony to spatialise."
Whatever their technical roots, the power of the playback system within The Morning Line has given the pieces an energy that has taken composers and audiences alike by storm. "It's extraordinary that you can get such high SPLs from such small drivers," says Myatt of the MM-4XP loudspeakers. "We couldn't possibly have done this without these speakers."
The Meyer Sound system also includes 14 self-powered subwoofers which the company custom-configured to fit the dimensions of the steelwork. Because The Morning Line is designed for outdoor installations and will be displayed in locations with a wide variety of environmental conditions, all the Meyer Sound enclosures are weather protected.
Ritchie's desire to create a technologically innovative venue with an emphasis on the listening experience made the work a natural collaboration for Meyer Sound, a company with a long tradition of supporting sonic research.
"Our engineers worked closely with the development team of The Morning Line to provide the audio infrastructure for this groundbreaking exhibition," says Helen Meyer, co-founder and vice-president of Meyer Sound. "Projects like this allow us to push the boundaries of technology and invent solutions for new challenges. We are thrilled to be involved in this unique experiment."
The Morning Line exhibit in Seville features a program of new musical works coordinated by guest curators Bryce Dessner, David Sheppard, and Florian Hecker. Its next location will be the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's South Bank, to which it will be moved in Spring 2009.
Look out for an in-depth look at The Morning Line in a forthcoming issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.
(Lee Baldock)
