I am Sitting in a Room

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I am sitting in a room (1969) is one of composer Alvin Lucier's best known works, featuring Lucier recording himself narrating a text, and then playing the recording back into the room, re-recording it. The new recording is then played back and re-recorded, and this process is repeated. Since all rooms have characteristic resonance or formant frequencies (eg. different between a large hall and a small room), the effect is that certain frequencies are emphasised as they resonate in the room, until eventually the words become unintelligible, replaced by the pure resonant harmonies and tones of the room itself. The recited text describes this process in action - it begins "I am sitting in a room, different from the one you are in now. I am recording the sound of my speaking voice," and the rationale, concluding, "I regard this activity not so much as a demonstration of a physical fact, but more as a way to smooth out any irregularities my speech might have," referring to his own stuttering.

Lucier had also specified that this performance may not follow his text, and the performance may be recorded in any room. However, Lucier himself has recorded the piece in at least one room he did not find aesthetically acceptable.

External links

Listening

• Estoy sentado en tu habitación (ongoing project), a serie of real time I Am Sitting in a Room reinterpretations by yoko.lennon
• I Am Sitting in a Room by Residuum Collage artist Residuum takes the text by Lucier and let the computer speak it. And as a computer can only speak virtually, the technique is applied to virtual space.
• Alvin Lucier at UBUWEB Has a copy of the original 1969 performance for download, as well as a 2001 interview / documentary.

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