Out of the Rolling Ocean, 2019
An interactive installation for female voices
Emily Erekson
“Out of the rolling ocean the crowd came a drop gently to me … I too am part of that ocean, my love, we are not so much separated, Behold the great rondure, the cohesion of all, how perfect!”
— Walt Whitman, Out of the Rolling Ocean the Crowd
I gave twenty-two women a set of parameters:
Use your voice, no other instrument
Record for 1-3 minutes
Start and end by humming a D
Listen to a D continuously on headphones while you record
Don’t copy pre-existing music
You get one take--once you start, just keep going
Some were more comfortable with this exercise than others. Many felt their voices were inadequate and were hesitant to participate, while those who identified themselves as “singers” confidently volunteered. A few wished they had more rules and an example to make sure they did it “correctly,” while others thrived in the flexibility and freedom. Some meticulously planned. Some spontaneously vocalized. One woman hummed a single pitch the entire time. Another beat-boxed. The end result was a beautifully diverse sound-bank of voices, each with its own unique timbre, rhythm, intonation and harmony.
I used this sound-bank as raw material to dissect, re-structure and shape into five contrasting movements: four pre-composed and one continuously evolving. These movements are connected by a series of algorithmically-paired duets and trios that are drawn from recordings by the initial twenty-two women and the voices of each new participant. As I composed, I enjoyed exploring the dynamic relationship between the individual and the community. How does this relationship impact the choices we make as individuals? How do these choices interweave to create our social framework? How do we connect with others? How do we separate?
Exhibited in 2023 in the Church History Museum. Commissioned by the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts.