About SEE

The Solar Electric Ensemble (SEE) is research project, headed by sound artist and composer Scott Smallwood at the University of Alberta. SEE encompasses several elements, operating as a performing ensemble, research initiative, and a lab, all exploring the possibilities of solar-powered sound. This website is brand new as of November of 2010, and as such, will be undergoing many updates in coming months.

The Instruments: Many of these instruments are intented to be used with "raw" solar power, without the use of batteries or other large buffering devices. This design limitation presents a challenge not only in terms of circuit design, but also in terms of performance practice, as the state of the instrument is in constant flux, requiring the performer to adjust to new conditions in real time. It also means that the solar panel itself is an interface which can be used to alter the sound purposely. In addition, we are also interested in creating laptop-based instruments amplified through solar-powered loudspeakers, as well as other types of instruments, including electromechanical devices.

The Lab: In conjunction with the Interactives inniative, the Industrial Design Lab, and the EARS labs, we are able to design, prototype, and construct custom interactive devices and sound-making objects. These have so far included logic-chip based hardware circuits, AVR and PIC microprocessor-driven instruments and controllers, software instruments for laptops, and solar-powered loudspeakers. The aim here is to keep everything highly portable, and capable of performing full concerts without the use of the electrical grid.

The Ensemble: The performing ensemble includes faculty, graduate students, and guest performers, and functions as an "in-residence" ensemble. The goal of this ensemble is the performance and presentation of musical works in site-specific locations - both indoors and outdoors.