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NICOLAS BERNIER (CA)
frequencies (a/archives)

30'02''

CD + DIGITAL RELEASE
CATALOG: 9ED004
RELEASED MARCH 5, 2019

DESIGN: MOTE STUDIO

This is the last release in the series of Nicolas Bernier’s worldwide acclaimed and Prix Ars Electronica Golden Nica awarded project “frequencies”. This release comes not only as a limited edition of 200 copies wallet CD + insert, but the artist is giving away what rests from his own personal tuning forks collection (sold out!). People who purchased the CD thus received one of the tuning forks which were used for the whole studio and live project around the world. Each tuning fork is unique and came alongside a laser cut acrylic base with the frequency engraved.

The piece frequencies (a / archives) is a composition based on sounds from the scientific archives of Rennes 1 University (France). This impressive collection of antique scientific apparatus includes one of the few remaining "Grand Diapason" built by Rudolph Koenig circa 1880. The two gigantic forks of the Grand diapason can generate acoustic vibrations between 32 and 48 hertz. This range of frequencies are (barely) heard in the composition, among other sounds from the archives, mainly tuning forks. The piece is metaphorically building a sonic bridge between past and present, like a lullaby in memory of those scientists, inventors and objects to whom we owe the history of sonic research.

The project was initially commissioned by Electroni[k] as a radiophonic web version. A second longer version was made later on for the Immerson concert series created by France Jobin. The two versions are reunited together for the first time on this release. Nicolas Bernier worked for a decade with tuning forks. What is left of the artist’s own tuning forks collection is given away with this release in a series of actions self-restricting any further investigation of this object.

Composed, performed and produced by Nicolas Bernier. Vox by Dominique Bernard. Co-production: Electroni[k], Nicolas Bernier. Mastered by Alexander Vatagin. Designed by Mote Studio, Berlin. A special thank goes to Steiner Walter, Nalden, Ken Rice and Yoshiyuki Saito for their precious support in making the production of this album possible.

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NICOLAS BERNIER

"one of the most interesting and sophisticated artists in the contemporary scenario" 
— Digicult, IT

"Un savoir-composer hors-norme"
— Goute mes disques, BE

Nicolas Bernier creates audiovisual performances and installations aiming to carve a dialogue between sound and tangible matter. Shaped by his work within the fields of cinema, literature, dance and theatre companies, his own language blend together elements of music, photography, design, science, video art, architecture, light design and scenography. In the midst of this eclecticism, his artistic concerns remain constant: the balance between the cerebral and the sensual, and between organic sources and digital processing. Awardee of the prestigious Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica 2013 (Austria), his work widely recognize, presented all over the world: SONAR (Spain), Mutek (Canada), Elektra (Canada), ZKM (Germany), Transmediale (Germany) and LABoral (Spain) to name a few. His sound compositions are widely published on electronic music labels: 901 Editions (Italy), LINE (US), leerraum (Switzerland), Entr’acte (UK) and empreintes DIGITALes (Québec). He holds a PhD in sonic arts from the University of Huddersfield (UK). He is a member of Perte de signal, CIRMMT and Hexagram media arts research and development centres based in Montreal. He is teaching in the Digital Music program of the Université de Montréal.