Murmuration VII by Fredrik Rasten

Evoked by the sonic experience emerging when tones and their overtones align and synergize, Fredrik Rasten's Murmuration series for multiple guitars cast fine-tuned harmonies that give rise to a physical and tactile perception of sound. Realized on a setup consisting of five acoustic guitars played with e-bows, Murmuration VII highlights detailed sound facets of just intonation harmony, as the electromagnetically activated strings produce round, sine wave-like tones in harmonious fusion. Gradually accelerating and decelerating, waving beating patterns reveal a tone’s trajectory from one chord to the next, and both performing and listening becomes a process and a time-dissolving state of being. The word ‘murmuration’ denotes the phenomenon of multitudes of birds in collective movement, creating amorphous, ever changing shapes in the sky. Rationally tuned harmonies kindle a similar sense of ephemeral materiality, perceived through our hearing, and felt as embodied vibrating resonance.

This recording captures a live performance at the Sound of Stockholm festival from November 2024.


Fredrik Rasten - five acoustic guitars played with ebows

Fredrik Rasten (born 1988) is a guitarist, improviser and composer based in Oslo and Berlin. He is mainly focusing on the musical possibilities within just intonation and related sound phenomena, and in his work he is reaching for an actively listening state wherein to intuitively explore the complexities of tone and harmony.

fredrikrasten.com