Dr Antti Saario
Head of Music
Dr Antti Sakari Saario is an award-winning post-acousmatic composer, sound and audio practitioner, researchers, and an audio professional. Antti's compositions have been performed in over 200 concerts, dance performances, festivals and installations in England, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil amongst other countries, and broadcast worldwide.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
---|---|---|
2002 | PhD Musical Composition | University of Birmingham |
1997 | BSc (Hons) Electronic Music and Mathematics | University of Keele |
Honors and awards
Year | Description |
---|---|
2003 | Bullet Train Ballad no.1 (2002) [7’], fixed media. Finalist in Bourges 2003 TRIVIUM A – Degre II Studio Category. |
2002 | Bullet Train Ballad no.1 (2002) [7’], fixed media. 1st prize absolute for 'Electro-acoustic, analogical and digital music' section of the IV International Contemporary Music Contest "Città di Udine" competition 2002 (1500 euros, public performance and realization of a CD of the concert), Udine, Italy. |
1998 | Soft Lies, Soft Icons (1997-8) [12’], fixed media. Seventh place in the Prix Scrime acousmatic composition competition, Bordeaux, France. |
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise
- Sound recording
- Audio and music production practices and associated technology innovations, with a particular focus on creative and critical application transducers
- Composition: electroacoustic, fixed media, post-acousmatic and studio composition
- Sound, audio and listening praxis
- Soundscape ecology
- Collaborative and nomadic creative methods
- Sound and affect theory
- Sound based performance practice: electronic music performance, mixed media sound making, installation, and post-acousmatic performance
- Black Metal: production, black metal theory, blackened affect
Research Topics
- Black Metal
- Composition
- Performance
- Praxis
- Production
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
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Bossey, Adrian
(2023), Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation (‘LAAA’), In: Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation, 17-19 May 2023, AMATA -
Särkelä, Janne
(2016), Melancholy Paradox (LP)
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Saario, Antti
(2023), Through the Periscope: Microphone Character in Creative Studio Production, In: Innovation in Music 2023 Conference, 30 June - 02 July, Innovation in Music Conference - InMusic2023 'You're Not Supposed To Do That', Edinburgh Napier University, (Unpublished) -
Saario, Antti
(2018), The Blackened Affect: Affect and Production in Black Metal, In: Crosstown Traffic: Popular Music Theory and Practice, 3-5 September 2018, University of Huddersfield, UK
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Saario, Antti and Pigott, Jon
(2021), Speaker Park: An intersection of loudspeaker design and post-acousmatic composition, In: Innovation in music: Future opportunities, Routledge, Abingdon, ISBN: 9780367363352, Item availability may be restricted.
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Saario, Antti
(2017), Public Dreaming: Europe. Almost. A Fantasy., Item availability may be restricted. -
Saario, Antti and Riikonen, Taina
(2013), INK(ED - Ihoon Kaiverrettua: Thoughts, Deeds, Vibrations multi-lingual experimental radio feature (duration: 50') -
Saario, Antti, Marclay, Christian, Wiegold, Peter and Young, Michael
(2012), The Doll's House with A Game of You - for an improvising ensemble, fixed media and video score -
Saario, Antti
(2008), Nomadische Luftspiegelung für Eva: for accordion and fixed media (audio) -
Saario, Antti and Iddon, Martin
(2008), Proposition 6a: ceci n'est pas une machine de guerre (Refrain) - for fixed media, with optional amplified piano and live electronics
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Newall, Amanda
(2015), Hoover Diaries
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Ferrett, D
Lamb, Johny, (2015), Dark Sound: Destructive Pop 2015, AMATA, Falmouth University
Externally funded research grants information
Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
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GBP | |||||||
GBP |
Events
Research Students
Current research students
Dinah Hayward (PhD candidate): Aural diversity and composition practice
Thomas Hull (PhD candidate): Soundscape ecology and composition practice
Amble Skuse (PhD candidate): Disability and composition practice (3D3 funded)
Previous student supervision
Dr Philip Reeder: Composition (AHRC Funded)
Dr Tom Slater : Composition, Sound art
Number of research students supervised to completion
2Research degrees examined
Associate Director of Postgraduate Studies, Lancaster University, 2008-2010
Internal Examiner (PhD), Musicology, Lancaster University, Dec 2010
External Examiner (PhD), Cheung, Kaho PhD Rapid Transit Systems: a portfolio of music compositions, University of Manchester, February 201.
External Examiner (PhD), Jansch, Adam PhD Towards the open outcome record: a portfolio of works exploring strategies of freeing the record from fixity (2011) , University of Huddersfield, March 2012
Internal Examiner (PhD), Musicology, University College Falmouth/University of Plymouth, July 2012
University of York (2021) McNeill, Adams PhD Articulating the Dancefloor: Examining spatial, social and sonic identities of contemporary club culture through an interdisciplinary creative practice
Number of research degree examinations
4Teaching
Areas of teaching
- Sound Recording
- audio and music production
- Studio composition
- music technology theory and practice
- Professional Practice
- sound art
- audio theory
- Contextual studies
Courses taught
- BA (Hons) Creative Music Technology
- BA (Hons) Music
- BA (Hons) Popular Music
- PhD Supervision
Policy engagement within Cornwall
Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall
Cornwall Music Education Hub (CMEH) Strategic Advisory Board Member
Cornwall Music Network(CMN) Board Member
Business Engagement
Consultancy and facility services
Delivery of HEIF Business Assists (incl. recording, production and creative consultancy) for Cornish artists, business and musicians (2011-15)
Professional Engagement
Independent professional practice
Creative output
Antti’s praxis focuses on fixed media composition and its experiential, critical and performative application in interdisciplinary, collaborative and multi-media contexts.
Commissions by YLE (Finnish Broadcast Company), Frieze Art Fair/Channel 4 film, Cecis Art Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Duo Roche/Zöllner, Nuffield Theatre and London Musicians Collective (LMC).
Full project details and list of performances, broadcasts and media releases available on request.
Recent
World Premiere and performances of GhXsts by Eva Zöllner and Heather Roche in UK (York, Leeds, Belfast) and Portugal (Seia)
Installation and VIP performance of Public Dreaming: Europe. Almost. A Fantasy. at the Nordic Bienniale of Contemporary Arts: Momentum 9 'Alienation', Norway
Screening tour of Hoover Diaries, New Zealand
Forthcoming
- Split LP release with Stephen Grew (piano: UK), Summer 2018
- Live performances at Jaguar Hotel, London, June 2018
- EP release of Crescendo of Doom with Heikki Helanterä (drums: FIN), Late 2018
- Dangers of reading too much presented by A|R (Aero Ionian Risk) performance-installation, Arkadia International Bookstore, August 2018, Helsinki, Finland
List of compositions
Fixed & mixed media composition
GhXsts (2017) 8:30, stereo fixed medium and score for unspecified forces Work commissioned by Duo Roche/Zöllner.
Public Dreaming: Europe. Almost. A Fantasy (2017) c.45’ live laptop performance at Momentum 9 – Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art: Alienation
Public Dreaming: Europe. Almost. A Fantasy (dreamscape) (2017) 110:15 stereo fixed medium soundtrack for a ‘sleep structure’ and public sleep clinic by Amanda Newall (NZ) and Leon Tan (NZ)
Hoover Diaries (2014-16) 45:00 stereo fixed medium soundtrack and post-production for HD video Director and project leader Amanda Newall (NZ)
Don’t Leave Stay a While Longer… (2011), Open duration stereo fixed medium composition and sound design for Ivars Drulle’s Cecis Art Festival commissioned multimedia installation. Old Cesis Brewery, Cesis, Latvia, Summer 2011.
The Darktown Cakewalk: Celebrated from the House of FAME (2010) Sound consultant and audio production supervisor, sound recording, remixing and a collaborative composition with Philip Reeder (UK) for Frieze Art Fair/Channel 4 film commission and series of 13 hour performances conceived and directed by Linder Sterling, feat. Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra)
Nomadische Luftspiegelung für Eva (2008) 9:30 stereo fixed medium and accordion Commissioned by Eva Zöllner (GER)
Aboriginal Terraformations (2008) stereo fixed medium for HD video Collaborative video and research project with Ola Johansson (SWE), Amanda Newall (NZ) and Stephen Pritchard (AUS)
The Hollywoods: We are Legion – Mixed Reality Jockeying (2007) Stereo fixed medium compositions Collaborative multi-media art and research project with Amanda Newall (NZ) and Leon Tan (NZ)
Pilgrim Sunrise, Pagan Sunset (2007) score for unspecified forces and fire Commissioned for the Guthrie & Streb Summer 2007 Extravaganza www.gutrhieandstreb.com Frames for One (2004-07) stereo fixed medium soundtrack for a dancer and video Video by Olaf Knarvik (NOK), Dance and Choreography by Gitte Bastiansen (NOK)
Bullet Train Ballad no.1 (2002) 7:18, stereo fixed medium Winner of 1st prize absolute for "electro-acoustic, analogical and digital music" section of the IV International Contemporary Music Contest "Città di Udine", 2002, Udine, Italy Contemporanea 2002 : Interensemble (Taukay123), CD Yachtclub vol.1 – Alkumeri Yachtclub (Yacht001), CD Crystal Man (2002) (remix) 1:00, stereo fixed medium Released on Bottoms Up Limited Edition CD featuring 51 remixes of the work of Professor Jonty Harrison
Portrait Concrète: Jo Hamilton in fixed media [21'36" x 44.1 kHz/s x 16bit] (2001) 21:36 stereo fixed medium
G&T Swimmers (2001) c. 11’ stereo fixed medium Commissioned by Aldeburgh Festival CD release on Viewpoint ‘Works from BEAST – vol.3’. Sargasso Records
Invisible Tattoos (2000) c. 25’ stereo fixed medium
nausea (1999) c. 17’ stereo fixed media
Kuollut Radio (1998) c. 4’ stereo fixed medium Produced to form a part of LMC commissioned Ways of Hearing by David Prior (UK), Dugal McKinnon (NZ), Ian Chuprun (CAN) and Antti Saario (FIN), for John Peel Festival, London, 1998.
B-Side (1998) 3:15 stereo fixed medium CD release on Spike ‘Works from BEAST – vol.1’. Sargasso Records CD release on Presence II. PeP
Soft Lies, Soft Icons (1997-8) 12:03 stereo fixed medium
IN COLLABORATION w/Martin Iddon (UK) as [zygote]
The Doll's House, (2014) 15:45 stereo fixed medium
A Game of You with The Doll’s House, (2012) c. 15’ animated video score, stereo fixed medium audio and an ensemble Video by Adam Gregory York.
5 closed vessels, (2011) Stereo fixed medium
complicity simplex, (2011) 8:06 video score & stereo fixed medium audio Video by Adam Gregory York.
virtuoso, (2009) c. 80’ stereo fixed medium
proposition 6a: ceci n'est pas une machine de guerre (Refrain), (2008) 9:52 stereo fixed medium, with optional amplified piano and live electronics CD release on Sound Report: The Comfort of Strangers (Sound Network, 2008)
dead white male, (2008) stereo fixed medium
dead white male (edit), (2007) stereo fixed medium
closed vessel: Ausstrahlung, (2007) 1:00, stereo fixed medium DVD release on FrammentAzioni (Taukay, 2009) CD release on Soundtrack to a Catastrophic World (cantaudio32, 2010)
IN COLLABORATION w/Taina Riikonen (FIN) as Aero Ionian Risk (A|R)
INK(ED) - Ihoon Kaiverrettua: Thoughts, Deeds, Vibrations (2013) c.50’, stereo fixed medium, multi-lingual radio programme Commissioned by YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company)
Visceral Logic Romances with the Facts and Fiction of the Conceptual Machine (2012) multimedia performance for Arkadia International Bookstore, Helsinki, Finland
Aero Ionian Risk at Nudge (2011) Multi-channel open duration sound installation Commissioned by consumer awareness company Nudge, with support from Apple, Finland and Genelec loudspeakers. Nudge, Design District, Helsinki, Finland, April 2011
IN COLLABORATION w/Iain Armstrong (UK) as Anvil & Stirrup
Run Blood, Blodlopp no 3 (2012), soundtrack HD video.
Anvil & Stirrup, ThousandUnfold (2010) [3’], fixed media
Boom Boom Boom (BudDub mix) (2001), [9’] remix of the Jo Hamilton original. Original track produced by Jon Cotton.
WORKS FOR STAGE/PERFORMANCE ONLY
Making Space: When The Curtain Falls (2007) 21:00, an acousmatic play for multichannel playback system and blacked-out space
Flocking: an improvatorio (2007) for voices, string quartet, fixed medium and live-electronics Collaborator on and a co-researcher in the ACE, PRSF and LCC funded research project into group free improvisation led by Steve Lewis (feat. Maggie Nicholls, Phil Minton, Cleveland Watkiss, Beth Allen, David Prior, Four Candle quartet)
Unprepared (2007) a collaborative performance, interactive environment and concept for stereo fixed medium, live-electronics (Saario) and keyboards (Stephen Grew).
Tok Tok#2 (2006) c. 60:00, multi-media performance-cum-installation with Phil Dadson (NZ) and Amanda Newall (NZ)
Europa; Woman (2006) c. 60:00, stereo fixed medium composition and sound design Karen Foss Quiet Works dance company production.
quiet,red (2004) c. 60:00, stereo fixed medium composition and sound design Karen Foss Quiet Works dance company production.
Professional audio work
Freelance audio production, engineering and creative consulting since 2001 (clients include TV2 (Norway), Linder Sterling (UK), Erototox Decodings (USA)).
Publications
Riikonen, T, Saario, A, (2011). Listening to the Replayed Touch: A Strata-aural Manifesto. Body, Space & Technology, Vol. 10/01.
Riikonen, T, Saario, A, (2011). Äänen kosketus. Kybervärähtelevä manifesti. [The Touch of Sound. A Cyber-vibrating Manifesto.]
Nuori Voima 1 (2011): 24–25.
Riikonen, T, Saario, A, (2011). Listening to the Recorded Touch: Towards Visceral Methodologies of Mixed Media Sound Making. [Paper presentation] sforzando!, EMS/EMF Conference, NYC, USA, June 2011. •
Social, community and cultural engagement
Keynotes and Invited Speeches:
Cornwall Music Education Hub, Post 16 Conference, AMATA, Falmouth University, October 2016
Environmental Utterance, Falmouth University, September 2012
Breathing, Sibelius Academy in collaboration with Uniarts, Musiikkitalo, Helsinki, Finland, Septemer 2011
Cecis Art Festival, Old Cesis Brewery, Cesis, Latvia, Summer 2011
Engagement with professional associations and societies
Audio Engineering Society (AES) Member
Association for the Study of the Art of Record Production (ASARP) Member
Cornwall Music Education Hub (CMEH) Strategic Advisory Board Member
Cornwall Music Network (CMN) Board Member
The Music Producers Guild (UK) Member