Audio Control Turn on Yuval's sonic flow

Discover

Loading please wait

Scroll

Audio Control Turn on Yuval's sonic flow
Audio Control

Permanent sound sculpture

In collaboration with Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto
Mulinum San Floro, Catanzaro, Italy – Inauguration 14 July, 2019

A 1500-square-meter kinetic sound-art work featuring hundreds of bells and rattles from Mediterranean lands on wheat-like metallic sculptures. Played by the wind and visitors, it creates a contemporary yet ancestral symbol. This participative sound sculpture embodies Mediterranean traditions, rebirth, and collective responsibility, uniting the diverse voices of the sea connecting three continents.

In a narrow and windy part of Calabria, in a small and fertile rural area rises the Mulinum, a mill that cultivates ancient grains and grinds them producing different types of flour.
In and for this place, Yuval Avital’s sound sculpture brings with it the tradition of the various countries, the wind of rebirth in the collective responsibility and the strength of all those who want to collaborate and be part of a composition of sounds that come together giving voice to the many nuances of the Mediterranean soul, our sea that unites three continents. The project sees the creation of a garden composed of numerous metal ‘spikes’ or ‘wheats’ on which will be hanged bells and rattles from all over the Mediterranean: Il Giardino dei Sonagli (The Rattles Garden). By abolishing boundaries and distances, this artwork stands as a meeting place for the thousand faces which are reflected in the mare nostrum. The Mediterranean tradition is strongly linked to musical instruments, to which a different meaning and value has been given over time. Among these, rattles and bells are among the most ancient and diffused. The bells are never the same and their sound is similar but never identical. Every bell, like every individual, has its specific sound. Hundreds of bells played by the wind – which knows no boundaries – will be naturally and “demo-practically” united to generate the unique sound of the infinite in which they will echo the magic, history, culture and tradition of places in the Mediterranean.

Close
Close

Massive Sonic Works:

/ˈmæsɪv ˈsɒnɪk wɜːrks/

Large-scale performances using collective participation to create powerful sound masses.

Yuval Avital’s “Massive Sonic Works” or “Opera di Massa Sonora” involves the creation of large-scale performances that utilize collective participation to craft a unique sound experience. These works focus on forming powerful sound masses through the collaboration of numerous performers, exploring new possibilities through sound rituals. The compositions often include graphic visual elements, written music, and easy-to-read instructions to allow interpretation by individuals without prior musical experience. This approach, sometimes involving hundreds of participants, aims to create what can be described as “crowd music.”

Some key works in Avital’s repertoire include:

– GARON (2012): An opera for 45 bass tubas do, percussions, and a crowd of performers.

– KARAGATAN (2013): A composition for 100 gongs and bamboo in the Philippines.

– REKA (2014): Commissioned by the Warsaw Autumn Festival and co-produced by the MiTo festival in Milan, involving traditional singers from unique cultures such as Tibetan, Zulu, Sardinian, Mongolian, and Samarkand traditions.

One of Avital’s significant compositions is MISE EN ABÎME, a milestone work that marks the beginning of his “Massive Sonic Works” series. Premiered in 2011, this composition involves a large ensemble of 100-200 non-musician vocalists, accordions, bass tubas, soprano, bass clarinet, percussions, didgeridoo, and conductors directing the performance in an immersive setup.

Another notable work is URLA, an immersive sonic experience with over 300 performers, showcasing diverse musical traditions in Matera, Italy. This piece combines traditional elements with modern instrumentation, theatrical actions, and innovative technological approaches, reflecting Yuval Avital’s interdisciplinary and transcultural artistic vision.

Yuval Avital’s creations blend complexity, cultural diversity, and technological innovation to create immersive and participatory sonic experiences that push the boundaries of traditional music composition and performance.