Earth Pulse: vibrational data as artistic inspiration

Abstract

The use of scientific data to create artworks has always played an important part in the arts, and music has been no exception. The impact of developments such as electricity, the phonograph, the cassette recorder and the now ubiquitous computer on the aural arts is well documented. This paper looks at a different influence however; the use of scientific data as a source for musical artworks, in particular the use of seismic and other low frequency data logged in various formats. As sound art offers different ways to experience aural media, this paper looks at some artists who have experimented with methodologies to create works using meteorological, geological and hydrological data.