River Symphony

Application summary

River Symphony is a new musical composition, installation and river conservation project in collaboration with SymbioticLab and MONOM studio. It explores the shifting ecosystem of Finland’s last wild river; Teno. The work utilizes river sensor technology, hydrophones and spatial sound to encode the river's "pulse" into a soundscape, crafting a composition and installation where the river becomes a “co-composer”. At the core of River Symphony is a live performance of the composition that explores the vital connection between water and life through a modern retelling of the proto-mythical narrative of Aino from the Kalevala, a woman who transforms into the fish (Vellamo). Departing from traditional runo-singing, the work combines the kantele with electronic drums to create a unique sonic experience. Seated in darkness, the audience is enveloped by sound from 36 speakers, with no clear point of origin, immersing them in a soundscape that draws them deeper into hydrological realms. Beyond the live performance, an installation will be exhibited to invite the river to become part of the composition. Water sensors installed in the Teno River will measure its "pulse"—real-time health data—directly linked to the live performance’s binaural sound recording, shaping the soundscape in real time and allowing the music to vibrate in harmony with the river. At the heart of the exhibition, a metallic bowl inspired by a mythological artifact (Sampo) from the Finnish epic Kalevala will be filled with water from the Teno River. The water will be vibrating in sync with the music, deepening the sensory experience. The premiere of the live performance will be part of the Spatial Festival, at Funkhaus Berlin, in May 2025. The binaural recording will be done at MONOM studio that same month and the installation will open its exhibition at Spore Initiative in Berlin in June 2025.