Austrian musicians Dorian Concept and Zanshin were commissioned by Sonic Acts and Elevate festivals to create a composition with Max Brand’s historical modular synthesizer Moogtonium. As a continuation of the project, a new performance with the synthesizer was presented to the NEXT Festival 2020 audience.
This prototype synthesizer was constructed in 1957 by Bob Moog according to the designs of the composer Max Brand. The unique machine differs from other synthesizers not only in its sound but also in its interface: in addition to two keyboards and additional manuals for voltage control, there are also two foot pedals. While synth wizard Dorian Concept is working on the keys and pedals, Zanshin is using the sound generation controls. A dialogue between the two musicians emerges, who, in a time of user-friendliness, welcome the imperfections of this instrument and believe they recognize the nature of man. Together they try to decipher this idiosyncratic instrument and turn it around.
This work is presented by A4 as part of the international collaborative project Re-Imagine Europe, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, Slovak Arts Council and Bratislava – capital of SR.

Photo Courtesy of the organisation