Maryanne Amacher "Intelligent Life"

‘Maryanne Amacher (1942, Kane, Pennsylvania ) was a pupil of Rochber in Stockhausen (composition) during the sixties, specializing in computer sciences (1962-64). Between 1972 and 1976 she worked with Nam June Paik, and after 1976 with John Cage. One of Amacher’s main interests is electronically connecting live environmental sounds that are typical of different, far removed locations in the same city or in different cities. Maryanne Amacher made compositions using the sounds from these various environments, thereby manipulating the perception of space and duration. Amacher is also a pioneer in the study of the so-called “additional tones” – tones that originate in the ear and brain in response to musical intervals. Amacher connects “Art and Technology” in her work. Her newest creation, a musical for video and sound disc entitled Intelligent Life, must be performed simultaneously for radio and television. (...) The performance of the project Intelligent Life would be an enormous organizational and financial undertaking, and De Appel does not have the resources for such a large project. In 1982 De Appel enabled Maryanne Amacher to produce her idea in the Netherlands based on the possibilities present in this country, so that it has become a handbook, as it were, for approaching radio, television and sponsors for the creation of future productions. We found a production leader for her in the person of Raymond le Gué, who is working with her in pursuing and actualizing the contacts already made by De Appel with Philips, television and radio.’ (‘Maryanne Amacher’, Report of De Appel projects carried out in 1982. Announcement of projects for 1983, pp. 3, 4.)