test_signal


	test signal (2006)

	Test Signal involves a large video projection of Colour bars (normally used by video and broadcast technicians to verify signal accuracy) accompanied by a live choir. The Choir commences by singing the sustained tone that normally accompanies the colour bars (440hz or concert A). Their voices are picked up by a microphone and translated in real time to produce the colours of the industry standard Colour Bars. Slowly, as the composition and timbre of individual voices begin to deviate from a set tone the colours follow, modulating the different hues within the colour spectrum.

	production diagrams illustrating the relationship of a choirs voices to colours within the test signal (2006)

	Notes on Test Signal Test Signal had been a project in germination since the principle ingredients of the work, colour and the human voice, were first tested on 23rd July 2002 in Rakvere Castle, Estonia as part of the performance festival KanaNahk. In this instance the piece Test Signal (Baritone) was performed with a single Baritone, Olari Yusef, who interpreted the changing colours of a pre-programmed score of shifting colour bars with an intuitive atonal accompaniment. Test Signal (Baritone) got a second airing as part of Brides of March at The Embassy in Edinburgh on 4th March 2004. In 2005 funding from The Elephant Trust enabled the payment of the Computer Programmer Martin Gladdish to develop a program that would allow voice to modulate the Colour Bars in real time. Test Signal was realised with The New London Chamber Choir at The South London Gallery on 23rd March 2006.

	Rehearsal of Test signal (2006)
	With the computer program in place Test Signal is now ready to tour as ‘a machine’ that the voice of local choirs augament. The piece requires a venue, large screen and video projector and a local choir interested to collaborate and rehearse the composition.

	For further information on how the programming and sound to video mediation work see Martin Gladdish's site:
	detailed technical information for test signal the new london chamber choir

	related works
	omega (2004) commentary on the decision (2006) good vibrations (2001) red house (2006) coloured plates (2006)

	other moving image works