Aural Spaces – Masterclass James Allister Sprang & 4DSOUND: Play the Space as an Instrument

James Allister Sprang

James Allister Sprang’s multidisciplinary work weaves in sculpture, visuals, and music, using sound to immerse audiences in a sonic cocoon that explores topics such as longing, nostalgia, disembodied voices, and representations of spirits unseen. His approach to spatial sound invites us to listen deeply while welcoming our own bodies, our ancestors, our traumas, our pain, our longings, visions, and dreams. During this talk, he will discuss his own journey in the spatial sound field, and his distinctive approach to creating in 4DSOUND.

Masterclass

What are the possibilities of 4DSOUND? What are interesting ways to play the system? How can you apply 4DSOUND in different contexts? What else is sound spatialization besides placing and moving sounds? How does it work, and most importantly: how does it sound? Holleman and Sprang discuss the underlying concept and fundamental principles, with a strong focus on the system in action, because hearing is believing.

This Masterclass is aimed at professionals and people from the field, but Aural Spaces also welcomes general interested parties who would like to be surprised by spatial sound.

Please note: this masterclass is in English.

4DSOUND

4DSOUND is an Amsterdam-based studio focusing on spatial sound as a creative medium. For over a decade, they have been pioneering the design of advanced spatial audio software and omnidirectional sound systems. Through the development of bespoke technology and their close collaborations with innovative artists, the studio fosters a dynamic international network of creatives, engineers, studios, and institutions within the fields of music, art, education, and research.

Aural Spaces

This concert is part of the Aural Spaces festival. From 12 to 15 December, a new dimension will be added to the live music experience in the Recital Hall of The Concertgebouw. The familiar red plush chairs will make way for a 4DSOUND installation, consisting of 13 pillars with 41 speakers. Classical acoustic methods are combined with the modern technology of 4DSOUND, further expanding the possibilities of sound experience.

Aural Spaces explores the boundaries between sound and space, blurring them and merging them. The result is a completely immersive listening experience that’s all too rare. Discover and feel how the music moves through space!