The Austrian composer Rupert Huber (*1967) has composed a piece of music especially for the Rotunda in the Pinakothek der Moderne. It will be ‘performed’ by visitors to the museum: their movements will trigger melodic sequences from the composition and create a polyphonic ‘music of encounters’.

‘Social Music’ is the name of the musical-spatial format that Rupert Huber has developed from his ‘dimensional music’ composition theory. In the composer’s installations, human encounters become music. ‘Dimensional music’ is characterised by the inclusion of a third axis in the (traditional) musical notation of pitch and duration: the ‘possibility’ axis. 

 ‘Social music’ is based on being able to incorporate unforeseeable events into a composition – in line with the principle of interaction: a person moves, a sensor detects their movement and triggers a melodic tonal sequence. In this way, several people create a symphony-like sound: their encounters are not only orchestrated but form the basis of the music installation as well – a symphony of individuals’ coming together. The sounds are adapted to the architectural situation, the proportions of the space determine the harmonisation of the parts. 

In cooperation with 
Ars Electronica Solutions 
and kind support of Fohhn Audio AG

Funded by 
PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne e. V.