Diffraction by Hannes Strobl

“Diffraction” explores the idea that emptiness and form are inextricably linked. Every sound emerges in interaction with the silence that precedes and follows it. Yet even in supposed silence, something remains audible—a faint murmur, a subtle vibration, an echo of the surroundings. Pauses here are not empty spaces but active forms that shape the context for the next sound. Silence is understood as a form-giving presence, constantly interacting with the sounds and shaping the structure of the music.

The title “Diffraction“ refers to the physical phenomenon where sound waves are deflected by obstacles and scattered in new directions. In a similar vein, the sounds in this work undergo dynamic transformations—they break, flow, and evolve in an ongoing, ever-changing process.

“Diffraction” invites us to perceive sound not merely as a linear sequence but as a living event, as a dynamic process. In the oscillation between silence and sound, stillness and activity, an exploration unfolds that probes the boundaries between physical reality and subjective perception.

Hannes Strobl works as a musician, composer and sound artist based in Berlin. The essential starting point of his music is the sonic potential of the electric bass guitar and the electric upright bass. Its characteristic expressive repertoire is expanded through the use of advanced playing techniques in combination with live electronics, dissolving the boundaries between instrumental and electro-acoustic music. One important focus of his compositional work lies on musical expression forms against the backdrop of urban sound spaces. On the other hand on installation works, where the starting point lies in the relationship between sound and architectural space. Since 2000 Hannes Strobl has been developing this concept together with Sam Auinger in the project TAMTAM. In collaboration with David Moss and Hanno Leichtmann the project DENSELAND was founded in 2008 and with Reinhold Friedl the project P.O.P. (Psychology of Perception) in 2012.

Crónica is an artist-run, non-profit label dedicated to sound art and electronic, computational, and experimental music.

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