Atrium: First Touch & Drone Orchestra

Atrium: First Touch is an evening of exploration and expression centered around Atrium, the new instrument from Whimsical Raps where playful gestures meet dynamic systems. Inspired by a decade of modular explorations through their Mannequins eurorack line, Whimsical Raps has rethought how to reach into polyphony in pentagonal form. Five voices of analogue synthesis with multiple timbral modes, flexible & improvisatory polytimbral modulation, three linked filters, two delays, feedback, and on-the-fly gesture recording come together to inspire endlessly-renewing ways to compose, express, and play.

The evening will start with a 30-minute drone orchestra featuring four diverse performers: Zander Raymond, Chelliah, Jeff Kolar and Eel Romance. They will be playing this brand-new instrument. The remainder of the night will be dedicated to exploring Atrium together, with facilitation from Dani Derks (WR's Materials Director). This portion will be lightly structured, roughly 10% workshop and 90% open sonic exploration, with space to ask questions as they arise.

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Atmospheric Music Alliance (AMA) and So Ambient. AMA is a nonprofit music organization dedicated to supporting ambient artists and expanding public understanding of ambient music through performance, education, and shared listening. So Ambient is a Chicago-based music series that focuses on ambient, experimental, and left-of-center electronic sound bringing immersive listening into the nightlife space.