VeloCity : race to zero
a new paradym in immersive arts
‘..the power consumed in staging this interactive music race is generated by the cyclists.’
VeloCity updates the interactive music-making of the futuristic 5K Pursuit Opera* and transposes all the track action to a full dome wraparound virtual velodrome.
Whereas in the original live work, the racing cyclists created the music in real time - controlling the score, tempo and libretto, in VeloCity, the riders compete on ‘Peloton’ style bicycle trainers, their endeavours projected as a music-driven race around the spectators within the dome. In addition, all the energy generated by the competitors is gathered to power the ancillaries used in its staging - projectors, computers, sound.
In VeloCity, the race is not just an internal competition, but a race against time. The work has no defined duration until BlackOut is triggered – when the human generators can no longer sustain a carbon neutral state – their race to zero.
* For more on 5K Pursuit Opera go to Overview/ Interactive on this web site
VeloCity is a unique hybrid of Science, Sport, Art and Ecology
Bolt-on options include:
FanBoost - additional human power generated on site or remote
StyloMeter – music genre personalised to individual listeners
HubConnect – world-wide Leagues participate via dome network
VeloCity (2025) is currently in development and open to collaborative partnerships
Abstract Anatomy (2024)
Score for immersive visuals based on Dark Matter, an interactive medium developed by SkySkan and SSIA.tech for live scientific presentations within full dome environ.
International screenings include DomeFestWest, IPS Berlin, FDUK.
Producer: Annette Sotheran-Barnett Visuals: Troy Whitmer Editor: Scott Wyman Music: Pip Greasley
Uranus (2018)
‘Uranus’ sequence from The Planets 360 for the Royal Astronomical Society
Music: sonicxploras (Dale Corderoy/Pip Greasley). Visuals: NSC Creative.
Image by Paul Sizer
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
Women in Science is a proposed anthology of song-based shorts for spherical projection, created to inspire women to take up the challenge of science. Although the fast-paced show would be primarily aimed at young women, it will be of universal appeal with a strong edutainment slant.
A 20 minute show would explore 6 song topics in a continual screening or interspersed for a live presenter. The music demos below are early ideas to give a feel of the content. We would like to hear from producers or planetariums in developing the concept further.
In collaboration with Bruce Woolley
Astronautica (2024)
Song demo for ‘Women in Science’ immersive music video concept.
Music and lyrics by Pip Greasley with vocals by Robyn Muse. Potential collaboration with visual artist/film-maker. Contact pipgreasley@btinternet.com
Flyology (2023)
Flyology (2023 development concept) for Women in Science immersive music video. Music and Lyrics: Pip Greasley Vocals: Sally Hossack.
Ada Lovelace is widely celebrated as the creator of the first computer programme. Less known is that when only twelve years old, the remarkable daughter of poet Lord Byron, wrote the book Flyology. Our musical venture takes inspiration from her 1827 study of birds to figure out the mechanics of flight, before visualising Ada’s world of steam-driven flying machines.
Reach for the Skies (2022 - current)
Performers : Robyn Muse, Shaofan Wilson, Rozanna Madylus, Sally Hossack
As Reach for the Skies is inspired by four women astronauts from four different continents, we have invited talented young artists like coloratura soprano Robyn Muse, and actor/writer Shaofan Wilson, to take the challenge. Songwriter Sally Hossack will lead the vocals along with choral contributions from our global community.
Development concept for Women in Science..
Music & Lyrics: Pip Greasley Production: Dale Corderoy: Vocals: Sally Hossack
Reach for the Skies is a universal anthem to the hopes and aspirations of women everywhere, and is taken from the song-cycle ‘Women in Science’.
Reach for the Skies can be presented in a conventional format. Or it can look to the future in exploring virtual and extended realities within emerging hybrid forms, where distinctions between real and fictive performance become blurred.
It can be a new kind of inclusive music experience where women from across the world are actively encouraged take part in a performance, with the opportunity to play alongside professional musicians of the Radio Science Orchestra.
Designed as an immersive experience for VR or spherical projection, the music uniquely responds and adapts in real-time to any external intervention and therefore varies in content and composition.
a new language of performance
This new language of performance can range from multi-user VR headsets to live full dome immersive experiences, where audiences see performers ‘in the flesh’ or within mixed technologies e.g. holography. It also enables us to look beyond the conventional auditorium and interrogate a more fluid approach to performance - more in common with the dynamics of ‘promenade’ arts, themed attractions or flying theatre.
Reach for the Skies is taken from ‘Women in Science’ - one of three 20 minute song-cycles from the one hour show Rocket 3.2.1, a collaboration between Pip Greasley, Bruce Woolley and the Radio Science Orchestra.
coming soon…………….
