The first public presentation of 12 Sound Illuminations took place on June 21 and 22, 2025.
Thank you all the people that came to listen and to enjoy the beautiful day in Preschen!
All about …
Place: Charnel House in Perschen, Oberpfalz, Bavaria. https://www.oberpfaelzerwald.de/karner-in-perschen
Architectural features: The interior of the ossuary, built in 1150, consists of a circular space covered with a vault. Its ceiling and walls are decorated with a series of frescoes dating from around 1165-1170. The frescoes, although partially destroyed, retain their original figures and colours, as they have not been restored. They are recognised as unique in the history of art.
Acoustic space: the architectonic space offers an extraordinary reverberation time of ca. 5 seconds!
Project description
This project consists of a sound intervention that presents twelve pieces called “illuminations” dedicated to the twelve apostles represented in the frescoes of the ossuary of Perschen. The purpose of these illuminations is to accompany the contemplation of the magnificent Romanesque frescoes that cover the walls and the vault and to enhances its mystical and spiritual message.
The main characteristic of the sound illuminations is that they have been composed in conjunction with the reverberation created by the space itself, using specific sound fragmentation and spatialization techniques. These strategies make it possible to create diffuse sound spaces, which favour the sensation of being immersed in the sound and allow us to experience a state of plenitude.
The twelve pieces will be presented one after the other in the course of a day.
About the Sound Illuminations and its symbolic relation
Each of the 12 sound illuminations is named after an apostle, and evoke the sound of animals or elements that either in the Bible, Psalms or the Gospels acquire a symbolic meaning. Here is a short description of each illumination:
PEDRO This sonic illumination evokes the sound of stones. The apostle Simon Peter (stone, rock) is the first one whom Jesus calls, and names him as the Rock on which he will build his church.
SANTIAGO EL MENOR This illumination is dedicated to music and evokes the sound of a choir of voices accompanied by trumpets. In the Bible, the purpose of music is to praise God and facilitate communication with Him: ‘All the Levite singers (…) were standing at the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen, with cymbals, lyres and harps. Next to them were 120 priests blowing the trumpet (…) and when they were singing and playing in unison: ‘He is good, and his great love endures forever,’ a cloud covered the Temple of the Lord. (Corinthians 14:15)
JUAN The piece dedicated to Juan evokes the sound of water, which in the Bible represents life, purification, divine presence and eschatological promise. The interior of the sanctuary becomes a cistern, and the murmur of water and falling drops can be heard.
ANDRÉS This one evokes the sound of a swarm of bees, symbolising divine wisdom. Honey in turn symbolises fertility and abundance, and even the word of God. ‘The word of God is sweet as honey’. (Psalms)
BARTOLOMÉ This illumination is characterised by being subtle and transparent as light. The light symbolises Jesus, life and the ascent to the spiritual dimension.
Jesus : ‘I am the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not.’
John 1:4: ‘In him was life, and the life was the light of men.’
TOMÁS This illumination evokes the sound of air, which in the Bible symbolises the spirit, the breath of God. Breath is wind, which in Hebrew is ‘ruah’, meaning air or spirit.
JUDAS ISCARIOTE This piece is the most aggressive and sharpest.
SANTIAGO EL MAYOR This illumination evokes the sound of trumpets, symbolising the coming of the kingdom of God: ‘(…) The seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of our God and Christ has come into the world, and will reign forever and ever’ (Apocalypse after St. John). In the seventh trumpet Jesus reigns and rules forever.
FELIPE This illumination evokes the sound of crickets, which in the Bible symbolise prosperity and happiness.
MATEO This piece symbolises Nature, and recreates the sounds of insects and animals which I heard at dusk on the banks of the Naab river, which is right in front of the ossuary, during the composition of these pieces,. Nature symbolises God’s perfection and goodness.
JUDAS TEDEO This sonic illumination is dedicated to the „Word“, which in the Gospel according to St. John symbolises the beginning of time, life and God Himself: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (Juan 1, 1). In it we hear multiple tones which, although appearing randomly, create small melodic motifs. These motifs structure the sounds into recognisable entities, just like the succession of sounds that give structure and meaning to words. ‘Because the word of God has life and power. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces to the depths of the soul’ (Hebrews 4:12).
SIMÓN CELOTE This illumination symbolises the day of the creation of all earthly creatures and of humanity according to Genesis, and evokes, like the one dedicated to Matthew, the sound of insects, frogs, birds and other animals that I heard at dusk on the banks of the river in front of the ossuary. By establishing a relationship between the sounds produced inside the ossuary and those produced by the river, this illumination aims to establish a connection between the spiritual world evoked by the ossuary and the earthly world in which we live, uniting them in the same eternal reality.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that this project has been developed over eight sessions of two days each, in which countless acoustic experiments have been carried out inside the hall. The experiences and thoughts that have arisen during the creation of the illuminations until their completion are collected in the form of brief field diaries, which can be accessed through the links specified below.
I would like to sincerely thank all the people and institutions linked to the Perschen ossuary for their support and trust, which made its realization possible: Tobias Hammerl, director of the Freilandmuseum Oberpfalz, as well as Felix Schäffer and Elisabeth Götz, Mr. Michael Stuhlfelder of the Staatliches Bauamt Amberg-Sulzbach, and Father Lorenz, pastor of the diocese of Nabburg
The creation of the 12 Sound Illuminations: Project Diaries
2023
- first session: September 26 and 27
- second session: october 10, 11, and 12
- third session: october 24 and 25
- fourth session: november 7 and 8
2024
joan riera robusté composer 
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