South Bend Symphony Orchestra's 'Octet' installed at Heartland Artist Gallery

Tribune Staff Report
·1 min read
Halle McGuire talks about the South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s listening installation "Octet," which uses eight speakers to play a recording by an octet made up of SBSO musicians at the South Bend Museum of Art, where it made its debut in 2020. "Octet" is now installed at Heartland Artist Gallery in Plymouth through Dec. 31.
Halle McGuire talks about the South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s listening installation "Octet," which uses eight speakers to play a recording by an octet made up of SBSO musicians at the South Bend Museum of Art, where it made its debut in 2020. "Octet" is now installed at Heartland Artist Gallery in Plymouth through Dec. 31.

PLYMOUTH — The South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s audio-immersive installation is on display through Dec. 31 at Heartland Artist Gallery, 101 N. Michigan St.

Originally a response to the global pandemic, “Octet” aims to re-create the feeling of being in an orchestra by situating the listener within a three-dimensional soundscape.

For the project, eight musicians recorded as a small, socially distanced ensemble. After a sound engineer channels each musician through a unique speaker, the system is set in a large circle giving listeners the freedom to explore each instrumentalist’s part or stand centrally in the space and experience the music comprehensively.

“Octet” employed SBSO musicians during a time of severely limited work opportunities, and the high-fidelity speakers and immersive soundscape offer patrons a completely new perspective on music.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Masks are required.

For more information, call 574-936-9515 or visit heartlandartgallery.com or southbendsymphony.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: SBSO's 'Octet' installed at Heartland Artist Gallery