Music of the Spheres

The installation consists of several ball objects that emit a sound when hit or bounced. Each balll contains secured electronic elements: motion/position sensors (accelerometers) and a wireless transmitter, sending data on the location and motion of objects to a computer with sound-generating software. Sounds vary from simple mapping (squeezing a ball triggers an effect similar to turning a filter knob on the synthesizer; bouncing the ball generates a cartoon-like “boing” sound) to more complex sounds, where various ways of turning and moving balls create musical structures. In such cases, each object is responsible for the sound of one instrument: a sequence can be played in which instrumental sounds are synced rhythmically, with their pitches and rhythmical values determined by the dynamics of ball movement. Sounds are emitted via loudspeakers connected to a computer, while the connection to balls is wireless.