Sound Carpet Dialogue: Chinese Whispers with Kai between Beethoven, Ink and Loop

Sound Carpet Dialogue

In the studio, I reworked one of my first 'sound carpets' - many layers on top of each other, the drawing turned upside down and condensed, so that the urgency in Beethoven's music and a forward movement clearly emerge. What sounds would Beethoven sense in it? Since he is not available to me, I sent my drawing to Kai Niggemann, the versatile composer, musician, and sound designer from Cologne, and asked if he was interested in a 'Chinese Whispers' style collaboration.

Collaborative Process

Beethoven 'whispered' a symphony 'into my ear'. I listened to it several times over different days and drew in layers what came to me. I 'whispered' this to Kai - via drawing. He hears/sees it and returns what he perceives in it, as sound. Just a day later, his response came: 'Let's try it!' And a few days later, I received his first loop with the note: '...other tonalities could come in — and it could completely change over time...'

Tactile Sound and Ambidexterity

In the meantime, I spoke on the phone with Anne Barth (Berlin) and told her how much I love the sound of my drawing pens on paper. She suggested recording it during the next drawing while I listen to music through headphones. So I listened to Kai's loop, taped down the drawing paper to draw with both hands, and recorded the pen sound with my phone. I sent Kai the raw recording, the resulting drawing, and later the further edited version. Now I am eagerly waiting for his next 'translation' – a dialogue thatlasts as long as it fulfills us.

Photo: Start drawing of our cooperation, 'Klangteppich B5 dunkel', ink pens on drawing cardboard, 19 x 28 cm.