Thursday, June 26, 2025

'Floodtide' (Tidal Sonification) by John Eacott and Andrew Baldwin

Trinity Buoy Wharf

The 'Floodtide' (Tidal Sonification) listening post, at Trinity Buoy Wharf, makes music that is determined by the tide of the River Thames, which is then played through the mechanical organ.

A sensor, submerged from the pier, reads tidal flow data, such as height and speed, which is then converted into musical parameters like pitch, duration, and volume using a computer algorithm. 

Trinity Buoy Wharf

The algorithm translates the tidal data into musical scores, which can be displayed on screens or mobile devices, so that musicians can incorporate the music into their own works.

'Floodtide' performances have taken place in various locations, including the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Southbank Centre, with each performance reflecting the unique characteristics of the location's tides. 

The machine was built by Andrew Baldwin, while the music by John Eacott.

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