Viral symphOny

Full viral symphOny cover: art by Joseph Nechvatal

viral symphOny is a collaborative electronic noise music symphony created by the digital artist Joseph Nechvatal.^[1][2] It was created between the years 2006 and 2008 using custom artificial life C++ software based on the viral phenomenon model.^[3] It is 1 hour and 40 minutes in length.^[4]

Awards

• viral symphOny was chosen as prize winner at the 9th Festival Internacional de Investigación Artística de Valencia, After The Net, 5–29 June 2008, Valencia, Spain ^[5]
• viral symphOny was voted #2 in the top ten at free103.9 radio in 2007
• SoundLAB VI selected artist: Joseph Nechvatal

Movements

• Movement 1 : the enthrOning (28.10 min)
• Joseph Nechvatal : original concept viral structures
• Matthew Underwood : nano, micro, meso and macro structures
• Andrew Deutsch : meso and macro structures
• Stephane Sikora : C++ programming
• Steven Mygind Pedersen : IEA project technician
• Movement 2 : murmuring tOngue Of Ovid (20.53 min)
• Joseph Nechvatal : original concept, viral structures, & synthesizer
• Matthew Underwood : nano, micro, meso and macro structures
• Stephane Sikora : C++ viral programming
• Ovid's Metamorphosis : text
• Jane Lawrence Smith : voice
• Movement 3 : pastOral pleasures (12.08 min)
• Joseph Nechvatal : original concept, viral structures, and text
• Matthew Underwood : nano, micro, meso and macro structures
• Stephane Sikora : C++ programming
• Movement 4 : viractual terminate (10.10)
• Joseph Nechvatal : original mix concept
• Matthew Underwood : nano, micro, meso and macro structures
• Andrew Deutsch : meso and macro structures
• Stephane Sikora : C++ programming
• Kevin Harkins: orchestration for percussion, didgeridoo, piano, violin and strings
• pOstmOrtem (28:10)
• Joseph Nechvatal : original mix concept
• Matthew Underwood : nano, micro, meso and macro structures
• Andrew Deutsch meso and macro structures
• Stephane Sikora : C++ programming
• Kevin Harkins: orchestration for String Section (Violins, Cello and Bass), Dijeridoo, E-pad (sort of harmonium-ish) Air Pizz (hammered calliope, sometimes including the hammered operator), Grand Piano, Orchestral Percussion Section, English Horn, Bassoon, Harp and Horn Section (French Horns, Trumpets, Trombone)

Performance history

• viral symphOny was re-mastered into 5.1 surround sound and presented as an immersive concert on April 12, 2012 at Harvestworks in New York City ^[6]
• Gen Ken Montgomery performed and recorded 3 pOstmOrtems (for Robert Rauschenberg) - an adaptation of the last movement from viral symphOny - as part of his Generator Sound Art exhibition held at Audio Visual Arts gallery (AVA) in New York City on October 3, 2013.
• The complete viral symphOny was performed as the soundtrack to a digital art projection by Joseph Nechvatal (in collaboration with Stephane Sikora) on April 28, 2012 at Galerie Richard in New York.
• The complete viral symphOny was performed at Diapason at 882 Third Avenue, Brooklyn New York on Friday February 13, 2009
• viral symphOny is downloadable for free at www.archive.org
• The first three movements of the viral symphOny net broadcast by WebSYNradio four times a day from September 30 to October 7, 2010.
• Web published in 2010 its entirety as part of the W2F Festival
• Viral Concerto by Rhys Chatham (based on the viral symphOny) was performed at Galerie Richard (Paris) on September 26, 2010
• The complete viral symphOny was performed as the soundtrack to a digital art projection by Joseph Nechvatal (in collaboration with Stephane Sikora) on September 26, 2010 at Galerie Richard in Paris.^[7]

References

• Artística de Valencia, After The Net, 5 – 29 June 2008, Valencia, Spain: catalogue: Observatori 2008: After The Future, p. 80
• Joseph Nechvatal Interview
• Review of full viral symphOny by Continuo
• Review / Joseph Nechvatal :: viral symphOny at SONHORS
• viral symphOny (extract): a low resolution extract from the pOstmOrtem section of viral symphOny was published in NME (The New Musical Express) magazine. Running time: 07:23

Recording reference

• viral symphOny (first movement only) CD Produced in 2006 at The Institute for Electronic Arts
• viral venus vibratOr web published at Soanyway
• viral symphOny (28'09") and murmuring tOngue Of Ovid (20:53) web published at UbuWeb
• A three-minute excerpt from viral symphOny was included on Master Cactus, a special edition issue cassette release curated by Gen Ken Montgomery Cassette

Footnotes

1. Joseph Nechvatal Interview: see end for mention of viral symphOny
2. "viral symphOny". Internet Archive.
3. 2 excerpts from viral symphOny at UbuWeb
4. Review of full viral symphOny by Continuo
5. Observatori 2008: After The Future, p. 80
6. Harvestworks announcement April 2102
7. "Joseph Nechvatal Paris Art Show 2010". Scribd.