Jacob Kirkegaard - OPUS MORS


Opus Mors is four listening spaces for one of the existential and natural aspects of being alive, which is death. The project portrays four sound environments that the human body commonly will be surrounded by or exposed to in the immediate post mortem: a morgue, an autopsy, a cremation and the decomposition - events that no one will ever get to sense on their own bodies because of the very fact of death. Opus Mors is an immersive, intimate and powerfully detailed sonic meditation into these four significant death spaces.

Exclusive deluxe release of 4 LP set in 180g black vinyl. Packaged in archival handmade box, bound in linen and embossed, including five unique prints on Tyvek paper. Signed and numbered limited edition of 250.

TOPOS 04 / Released September 3rd, 2019. For information on purchasing this album please contact Jacob Kirkegaard directly: jacob (AT) fonik (DOT) dk
 

On Jacob Kirkegaard's Opus Mors project - LISTEN TO: SOUNDS OF DEATH by Tim Hinman / Third Ear, 2019


OPUS MORS consists of four unique works, each on its own vinyl LP, composed from sound recordings from the following four significant environments:

OPUS MORTURARIUM
Two ambient recordings made inside two morgues listens within the slow and deep tones from the facilities that keep the corpses cold.

OPUS AUTOPSIA
Detailed and precise near-field sound recordings of a full autopsy starting with opening the corpse, following the removal and slicing and cutting open all the organs and brain, to finally returning all the organs, closing and washing the corpse. This work comes with a detailed 'track list' that provides insight into the timbre of the unique human organs.

OPUS CREMATIO
Coffin being rolled into the oven, the oven's different burning stages, the removal and relocation of the ashes to the ash cooler and then to the bone crusher. Finally, the ashes being poured into the urn. Vibration sensors placed on the surfaces of the oven reveals the sound environment of the oven as if heard from the inside.

OPUS PUTESCO
Sound recordings made at a forensic study facility where donated corpses are placed in an enclosed nature area to decompose while being studied. This work was made from near-field sound recordings of decomposing corpses recorded with measurement microphones placed only 1 cm above- as well as with vibration sensors placed inside the corpses.



This album was realised with support from the Danish Arts Council
Recorded, composed and mixed by Jacob Kirkegaard © 2019
Mastered and cut by Mike Grinser at Manmade Mastering, Berlin, Germany
Printed at Pallas, Germany


The total duration of OPUS MORS is 2 hours and 22 minutes.

OPUS MORTURARIUM
    Side A: Morgue I (18:47)
    Side B: Morgue II (18:33)

OPUS AUTOPSIA
    Side A: Opening of Body, Thorax, Intermezzo - Blood Drainage, Abdomen, Pelvis (Total 17:20)
    Side B: Neck, Intermezzo - Spine, Bone Marrow, Aorta, Head, Closing of Body (Total 18:06)
    
OPUS CREMATIO
    Side A: Coffin, Fire, Bone (18:57)
    Side B: Frost, Crusher, Ash (17:45)

OPUS PUTESCO
    Side A: Decomposition Internal (15:00)
    Side B: Decomposition External (16:50)

To purchase this album please contact Jacob Kirkegaard directly at: jacob (((@))) fonik (((.))) dk
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