About Lignes de niveaux:

Lignes de niveaux (Eng. level lines) is a new solo project from Leipzig-based French saxophonist Sébastien Branche. It is an extension of his Tenor-sax-on-a-stand solo work, which is this time brought into an electroacoustic and immersive experience through the use of Supercollider and the Ambisonics 3D-sound technique.

His usual elements are present: as always, long tones, multiphonics and breath are modulated through the use of various objects or extended techniques, but this time multiplied by the use of electronics, sampling, movement or modulation through space.

The saxophone can be built down and rebuilt in a phantasmagorical version that fills the room and surrounds the listener, who is invited to dive into the sonic mass he is presented to. Sébastien mixes static and dynamic elements to create abstract landscapes that he lets evolve slowly, as an invitation to explore them at one’s leisure.

It was developed thanks to the support of Musikfonds and GLV through their Neustart-Kultur program and premiered in ZiMMT in July 2021.

Bio:

Sébastien, born in France in 1980, plays soprano, tenor and C-melody saxophones. He got started with improvisation through workshops with musicians coming from contemporary jazz or improvised music.

Interested in perceptive phenomenons, he works mainly with sound as a material, describing himself as a “sound crafter” for an audience to listen to. His interests also extend to body and space, as he regularly confronts his practice to contemporary dance.

He plays in the saxophone duet Relentless or with electronics musician Miguel A. Garcia, in large orchestra with IMO, and regularly meets other artists, either for private sessions or performances. He also works on solo performances with tenor sax on a stand and light electronics (Lignes), ambisonics (3D-sound) with supercollider (Lignes de niveaux) or soprano saxophone and water (saxopH2One).

He’s also working as a sound artist, mainly in cooperation with French Photographer Diane Martinot with whom he works on ways to mix sound and light in different ways.

He has played around Europe in various venues and festivals, for concerts, dance performances or soundwalks.

Sébastien taught Mathematics in high school and also gave a workshop about soundscapes there. In April 2015, he moved to Leipzig and devotes his time to shiatsu and to his music. Since 2018 he organises “ZiXP”, a festival for experimental music dedicated to the local scene and a concert series LiLe mixing local and global guests.

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