A tree’s year rings are analysed for their strength, thickness and rate of growth. For the installation YEARS by Bartholomäus Traubeck, this data serves as basis for a generative process that outputs piano music. It is mapped to a scale which is again defined by the overall appearance of the wood (ranging from dark to light and from strong texture to light texture). The foundation for the music is certainly found in the defined ruleset of programming and hardware setup, but the data acquired from every tree interprets this ruleset very differently. YEARS plays with the idea of turning something physical into music, creating a new sonic identity.

Bartholomäus Traubeck, born in Munich, Germany in 1987. Currently living and studying in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Linz (Austria).