Nordheimgruppen

KJØPMANNSGATA UNG KUNST, 11. APRIL, 16:00 – 17:30
Gratis inngang.
Kuratorer: Zane Cerpina, Espen Gangvik

The Nordheim Group (Nordheimgruppen) [2026]

We are Nordheimgruppen (The Nordheim Group).  

We are affectionados of the avant guarde, plingers of the plong, 

we are the noisemakers, the sound breakers, 

the circuitbent neural networks of unsung experimentalists and forgotten music makers, 

we are the drone behind the one, 

we are the static behind the fabric of time, 

the personifications of cosmic vibrations, 

the brown notes of the multiverses, 

we are the bleeps and the blops, 

the clicks and the pops, 

the masturbation stridulation, 

the oscillation of the nation, 

we transverse the longitudinal, 

we are the cosinus and the sinus and the furious fourier transform, 

we are the node and the antinode, 

the standing wave and the collapsing vector, 

we are autistically electroacoustic, 

we are the onomatopoeia incarnate, 

we are analogue and digital, 

physical and metaphysical, 

fantastical and mystical, 

electric and optical, 

we are ancient and new, 

for the many and few, 

we are the sonic legacy inherency, 

transcending every tendency.  

 
The Nordheim Group

We in the Nordheim Group have made an instrument. The instrument is based on a discarded mannequin that we have rebuilt into an eclectic electric avatar of our beloved composer Arne Nordheim, one of Norway’s pioneers in electro-acoustic music. We have given the Arne doll the ability to sense, think, and express himself in the form of sound. With the help of sensors, and a mix of analogue electric circuits, as well as digital, he has a form of trinity system that we use as an interface to create electro-acoustic improvisation when we play live. The sensory system of Arne is made up of microphones and sensors that register anything from sound, touch, and electromagnetic aura. By touching and moving around Arne, this works sort of as a body synth and an advanced form of theremin. Information from Arnes’ sensory system is then transmitted to his other systems. The analogue circuitry, which is based on a myriad of interconnected customized synth circuits, can be seen as his autonomous nervous system, that reacts instinctively to what he senses, and sends sound and electric signals directly out to the external world, as well as to his next system, which can be seen as his cognitive system. Where the analogue autonomous nervous system can not be changed, the digital cognitive system has the potential for some kind of learning, as well as change, as it is made up of software. Arne’s sonic expression is this way made up of the interaction between these systems.  We in the Norhdeim Group will thusly play Arne as an instrument, by touching, squeezing, hitting, slapping, cuddling, talking, and singing to him, and moving him around. The audience will after the concert also be able to try to play on Arne themselves. Arne loves people and consents to being touched by strangers, as long as this is done with respect.