Reservations
This event is free and open to the public with no reservation necessary.
Program
Sam Davidson and Will Howie: Unrealistic Spaces: New Music for New Environments
Performer·s: Sam Davidson (clarinet, AKAI EWI 4000s, penny whistle), Will Howie (3D spatial electronics), Yujin Honda (drums and percussion)
Eclosion
Doorways
Rainbow Bird Rendévous
Thunderbreath
Beach Eclipse
Sound Castle
Honda X Honda
Event Horizon
Unrealistic Spaces places performers within unique 3D sound spaces layered with complex acoustics and ambiences that range from picture-perfect immersive field recordings to completely artificial, hyper-real sonic environments. Seven venue-specific compositions merge the stark abstraction of musique concrète with colloquial elements of modern jazz, hip-hop, and minimalism.
3D audio is all about approaching, matching, and going beyond real-world listening. Sound is reproduced from all around the listener—in both the horizontal and vertical planes—to create an enveloping and as immersive experience as possible. Musical and non-musical sound scenes can range from highly natural to completely fantastical.
Biographies
Sam Davidson
Sam Davidson is a clarinetist and producer from Vancouver BC. He began his career at fifteen years old, working with regional orchestras and jazz musicians in the BC interior. He holds a degree in orchestral clarinet from the University of British Columbia where, in 2020, he would return to earn a Master's degree in Library and Information Studies. Davidson's professional journey began with stints at the Banff Centre for the Arts and many years touring abroad with indie-rock band Brasstronaut and Canadian fiddle icon, Jaron Freeman-Fox. As a busy session musician, he is regarded for his original approach to the clarinet, the EWI (a breath-controlled synthesizer), and the penny whistle. In 2023, he completed his first major contemporary work, Clarinet Concerto No.1, which was recorded live at the Tokyo University of the Arts and it is featured on his latest release, Passages (2024).
Yujin Honda
Yujin Honda (b. 1999) is a drummer, percussionist and composer from Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture. He began playing the drums at nine years old. His early passion for rhythm eventually led him to the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts where he studied with many distinguished Japanese musicians including Katsumi Watanabe and Toshiyuki Honda. Since graduating, Honda has become a sought-after freelancer on the Tokyo music scene, and enjoys working across diverse musical contexts including orchestral, improvisational jazz, and various popular forms. His philosophy and purpose as a percussionist is to create magical and unrealistic spaces, drawing from a combination of innovation and tradition.
Will Howie
Will Howie is a music producer, recording engineer, and innovator in research and production techniques for 3D audio. He is also faculty within the University of British Columbia’s School of Music, and an occasional composer. His audio production experience covers myriad genres, including classical, jazz, fusion, acoustic, avant-guard, rock and funk, as well as many live and in-studio broadcasts for CBC/Radio-Canada. Will holds a PhD in Sound Recording from McGill University, and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Tokyo University of the Arts. He has had the pleasure to have worked with such artists as Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, James Ehnes, Steven Page, Toshiyuki Honda, Tafelmusik, Angela Hewitt, Chucho Valdés, Measha Brueggergosman, Angélique Kidjo, Tanya Tagaq, and Jane Coop.
Acknowledgement
With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
