SUMMONING is the latest work by experimental double bassist and composer Jacques Emery.

Designed as “a communal deep listening ritual”, the piece unfolds over 90 minutes, gently coaxing the listener’s ear to deeper and deeper states of listening until they reach a microscopic level of perception. The journey is aided by subtle yet immersive lighting design by digital artist Erin Nortje.

Reaching into the cavernous depths of his beloved double bass, SUMMONING emerged from Emery’s long-held fascination with “difference tones”, a phenomenon where a shimmering, pulsing oscillation emerges as the result of two tones with similar frequencies:

“When two tones are sounded simultaneously, a third wave is produced with a frequency equal to the difference between the two tones.

While the two tones are audible as pitch (two notes), the third wave is audible as a periodic rise and fall in the volume of those two tones. This third wave is called a difference tone, or interference beat.

I was practicing double stops (two-note chords) on the double bass, bowing them for a very long time, and these difference tones emerged and I began to really focus on them. I found them utterly intoxicating and mesmerising to listen to, it has a kind of mystical quality…this is the meaning of SUMMONING, like I’m conjuring the presence of this third wave out of the two notes I'm playing, and manipulating the speed of that wave by adjusting the two pitches.”

Running the bass through an amplifier in the resonant acoustic of the Annandale Creative Arts Centre's Dance Hall exaggerates this 'beating' effect, creating a deep, warm chasm of sub-bass tones and shimmering overtones. At times the sound recalls an organ, bagpipes, or modular synth rack more than the double bass.

SUMMONING follows in the footsteps of minimalist composers such as Pauline Oliveros, La Monte Young, Phill Niblock, Ellen Fullman, Yoshi Wada, and Ellen Arkbro, exploring the mind-altering potential of music focused on long sustained tones, resonance, overtones, and difference tones.

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For those interested in learning more about difference tones and how to listen to them, Jacques will give a talk & demonstration at 6:15pm before both performances. After the talk there will be time to buy dinner from the nearby shops before the music starts. You're also welcome to skip the talk and arrive just for the concert.

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Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of September.

6pm: Doors
6:15pm: Lecture/workshop
6:45pm: Doors
7:30: SUMMONING
Music finishes at approx. 9pm

Selection of teas served on arrival.

Audience members are encouraged to make themselves comfortable for maximal enjoyment of this immersive performance. You’re welcome to sit on a folding chair or grab a cushion (provided) and sit or lie on the floor.

Accessibility information:

Unfortunately this event is not wheelchair accessible due to the layout of the venue.
The entry to the dance hall has a small set of stairs.

Please note the performance has coloured lighting and haze.