Pit Przygodda and Yôko Higashi Unveil Their Latest Project: J Orbit
Daphne Oram’s Legacy Revived: ‘J Orbit — g…’ to Debut at Hamburg’s Papiripar Festival
In a breathtaking confluence of sound, motion, and visual artistry, a groundbreaking project is set to illuminate Hamburg’s avant-garde landscape at this year’s Papiripar Festival. ‘J Orbit — g…’, a collaborative synergy spearheaded by sound artist Pit Przygodda, choreographer Yôko Higashi, and composer Lionel Marchetti, pays homage to the pioneering spirit of Daphne Oram — an unsung heroine of electronic music whose innovative Oramics machine transformed the very fabric of musical composition.
First conceived in 1957, Oramics allows creators to literally draw sounds, transforming abstract shapes etched onto 35mm film into auditory experiences through light manipulation. Despite its historical significance being overshadowed for decades, Oram’s vision resonates powerfully today, inspiring a renaissance of experimentation in sound tied intricately to movement and visuals. “Daphne was truly looking for something new, something she felt deeply,” remarks Przygodda. “Her entire oeuvre shows a relentless search for innovative paths leading to the development of music and its tools.”
The inception of ‘J Orbit — g…’ was influenced by the visceral and almost corporeal warmth that radiates from Oram’s pioneering works, capturing the attention of artists across diverse disciplines. “I love the warmth of these sounds – far from the ‘cold’ world of electronics – they are very poetic,” notes Higashi. The performance will not merely be a concert; it promises to be an immersive exploration of synesthesia, where sound, image, and movement intertwine, embodying the very essence of Oram’s spirit, casting an ethereal shadow over the entire event.
Central to the performance is Przygodda’s creation, the Silhouette synthesiser. This innovative device captures real-time movements — every shift and gesture from Higashi projected as a sonic landscape, creating a closed circuit of auditory and visual feedback. As sound morphs into imagery and back, the audience becomes enveloped in a multidimensional tapestry where each element harmoniously converges, creating a palpable energy in the air.
“This multimedia instrument seems to invite a visceral experience,” says Przygodda. “People are captivated by the audiovisual combination, experiencing the synthesis inside their heads.” Each aspect, whether sound, image, or movement, maintains equal weight in the performance — a delicate ballet of ideas and expressions linking back to Oram’s unconventionally artistic inquiries into technology and presence.
At the heart of this project is a longing to channel the physicality and surreal visuality of Oram’s soundscapes. Marchetti envisions a performance immersed in a “dance with a loudspeaker,” where sound gains depth and texture akin to visual presence. “There is a real physicality to Daphne’s sounds,” echoes Higashi. “Each one is also very visual; when I listen, I sense an invisible body painting with sound.”
Scheduled to debut from April 24 to 27 at the Papiripar Festival — a pioneering event curated by the endlessly imaginative Felix Kubin — ‘J Orbit — g…’ positions itself at the intersection of concert, performance, installation, and lecture, redefining expectations of artistic expression in contemporary sound art. “Oram’s journey serves as a beacon of hope,” Przygodda reflects. “It’s a message not to give up when your vision veers into the unknown.”
Join artists entrenched in the spirit of innovation and vision at the Papiripar Festival and witness the revival of a musical legacy that transcends boundaries — an homage to a woman whose brilliance set the stage for a sonic revolution. For tickets and further information, visit Papiripar Festival’s official site.
