Nicolas Bernier is a Canadian sound artist born in 1977 in Ottawa. He holds a PhD in Sonic Arts from the University of Huddersfield in the UK and currently teaches in the Digital Music program at the Université de Montréal. Bernier is fascinated by combining past and present sounds and technologies in his work. Some of his installations include Frequencies (a / friction) which uses an oscillator connected to a speaker and tuning fork to create beating patterns between electric and acoustic tones. Another work, Frequencies (light quanta), visualizes sound by using acrylic panels, light, and programming to allow viewers to see and hear light.

1. Nicolas Bernier
BY GAIGE OREGON

2. Biography
oBorn : Ottawa, Canada, 1977
oCurrent Residence: Montréal, Québec, Canada
oPhD in Sonic Arts from the University of Huddersfield, UK
oTeaching Digital Music program of the Université de Montréal.

3. Background
oFascinated with the combination of past and present in sound art.
oAcoustic vs Electric
o“I am always thinking about the relation between music, sound, old
and new technology.”

4. Frequencies (a / friction)
oSound and Light Installation
oOscillator connected to a speaker and a tuning fork
oElectric and Acoustic
oBeating Pattern/ Beat Frequencies

5. Frequencies (a)
o“The (a) stands for ‘Audio’ or ‘Acoustic’ because the tuning forks are
producing an almost pure acoustic tone.”
oCombination of light, sound, programming and performance

6. Frequencies (light quanta)
oAcrylic panels, light and sound
oVisualizing sound, hearing light
oInspired by quantum physics

7. La Chambre des Machines “Engine Room”
oIntonarumori: “Noise makers”-experimental musical instruments
created by Luigi Russulo (1910-1930)
oAcoustic
oPerformed with Martin Messier

8. L’usure du Clocher “The wear of the bell
tower”
o“Sound sculpture”
oMoving parts

9. Additional works
frequencies (synthetic variations)
frequencies (a / continuum)
boite
frequencies (a / oscillation)