Alvin Lucier: Music for Solo Performer (1965)

performed by Steffi Weismann, Sophiensaele Berlin 2009 Festival SOLOLALA, direction: Gregor Hotz, technical realisation and programming: Sukandar Kartadinata, sound design: Kassian Troyer, sound objects: Steffi Weismann, light design: Ruth Waldeyer, Florian Bach, Bruno Pocheron Alvin Lucier: Music for Solo Performer - for enormously amplified brain waves and percussion (1965) The alpha rhythm of the brain has a range from eight to twelve hertz, and, if amplified enormously and channeled through an appropriate transducer, can be made audible. It can be blocked by visual attention with the eyes open or mental activity with the eyes closed. No part of the motor system is involved in any way. Control of the alpha consists simply of alteration of thought content - for example, ashifting back and forth from a state of visual imagery to one of relaxed resting. Place an EEG scalp electrode on each hemisphere of the occipital, frontal, or other appropriate region of the performer’s head. At