Octave9
(c) James Holt
On March 3, the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall are scheduled to unveil the new venue Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center. The press release says: « The only known space of its kind, Octave 9 is an immersive environment for inventive performances, education opportunities and community engagement. Through the nexus of technology, art and design, Octave 9’s first season will see five world premieres, over 70 contemporary composers and 70 instrumentalists from the opening in March through June 2019. »
After its opening on March 3, the new hall will host inventive performances and is also the Seattle Symphony’s new home for education programs and community engagement.
In Octave 9 a broad range of creative residencies and performances are possible, leveraging the embedded technology to push boundaries and pioneer the future of musical experiences. Combining a modular surround screen with 13 moveable panels, 10 ultra-short-throw projectors, motion-capture cameras, and a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound Constellation® acoustic system with 42 speakers and 30 microphones, the technology in Octave 9 can create a 360° shared virtual experience or disappear into the background for a more traditional setting.
The name was inspired by the size of a concert grand piano, which spans just over seven octaves. A nine-octave range, then, pushes past the boundaries, redefining what is musically possible.
Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center is named in honor of Seattle philanthropists James and Sherry Raisbeck, who provided a $2 million matching challenge to transform the former Soundbridge.
Octave9
(c) James Holt
Support for the inaugural season of artistic programming for Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center is generously provided by the Judith A. Fong Music Directors Fund.
Benaroya Hall, including Octave 9, is owned by the City of Seattle and is operated and maintained by the Seattle Symphony under a lease agreement. The city also has invested funds to help make Octave 9 possible and preserve an important public asset.
