Singing in the Wires

Singing in the Wires sonifies electricity demand data from the UK's National Grid. A drone chord is constructed from the digits of the electricity demand figure: each digit triggers a harmonic of a 50 Hz fundamental, so as demand changes, the harmonic makeup of the chord changes with it. The fundamental itself drifts with the grid frequency, which fluctuates around 50 Hz as the system balances supply and demand. The piece takes inspiration from La Monte Young's account of basing pieces on his childhood experience of hearing the hum of an electrical transformer, and its bowed-guitar sound references the bowed sonorities of Young's Theatre of Eternal Music.

Acknowledgements

The work uses publicly available data provided by National Grid, The data have been processed and transformed for use as source material for an experimental sound work. This work is not affiliated with or endorsed by National Grid.

This work is an independent artistic response and is not affiliated with or endorsed by La Monte Young