Music of Encounters

Pinakothek der Moderne | Art
06.06.2025 — 09.11.2025
Rotunde

The Austrian composer Rupert Huber (*1967) has composed a piece of music especially for the Rotunda in the Pinakothek der Moderne. It will be ‘performed’ by visitors to the museum: their movements will trigger melodic sequences from the composition and create a polyphonic ‘music of encounters’.

‘Social Music’ is the name of the musical-spatial format that Rupert Huber has developed from his ‘dimensional music’ composition theory. In the composer’s installations, human encounters become music. ‘Dimensional music’ is characterised by the inclusion of a third axis in the (traditional) musical notation of pitch and duration: the ‘possibility’ axis.

‘Social music’ is based on being able to incorporate unforeseeable events into a composition – in line with the principle of interaction: a person moves, a sensor detects their movement and triggers a melodic tonal sequence. In this way, several people create a symphony-like sound: their encounters are not only orchestrated but form the basis of the music installation as well – a symphony of individuals’ coming together. The sounds are adapted to the architectural situation, the proportions of the space determine the harmonisation of the parts.

In cooperation with: Ars Electronica Solutions and kind support of Fohhn Audio AG

Funded by: PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne e. V.