Declivities 2 was installed at The Substation in the Melbourne suburb of Newport for Speak Percussion's Automation project. Six repurposed motors drive the installation’s sounding devices. Note the electric fan which oscillates in a circular pattern rather than the usual side-to-side. Perfect for dropping, dragging and then lifting a double-beater assembly across an inverted ceramic dish. Providing a prominent staccato pattern—different every time!
The tinplate Declivities bowls, five of which are used here from the original eight first shown in 2003, provide the background drone built from the rolling seedpods (gumnuts) striking the rotating wall of tines of each bowl. There are roughly 24 tines on each bowl. The 'marginalia' of assorted surrounding objects is my (ironic) way of costuming the players for the recital.
Video very effectively demonstrates the mechanism of this small installation, built in the corner of a very large auditorium. My thanks to Rainer Linz for his camera work back then.
Video here.
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