Friends of the Wolf Tone: The Berlin Meeting

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In Western music, the “wolf tone” is an acoustic parasite resulting from overlapping frequencies emitted by certain string instruments. The name itself refers to the “wolf fifth”, an interval whose mathematical ratio has been shortened in order to complete the “circle of fifths”, a representation of the Pythagorean tuning, on which all Western music is based.

Considered dissonant and unpleasant to listen to, the “wolf fifth” has been systematically avoided or even banned in musical practice to this day. The designation of this presumably unfitting interval within the harmonic system also recalls the way in which the figure of the wolf has been used to incarnate noise, conceal otherness and manipulate fear.

The Friends of the Wolf tone are musicians, artists, and researchers dedicated to exploring this phenomenon in music and beyond. Departing from the need to challenge the standards of Western music, they engage in various, somewhat howling activities, thereby exploring the figure of the wolf as a recurrent symbol of fear, deviation, or resistance. Centres of interest range from the myth of Lycaon via Disney vilains up to the recent return of the wolves - both in wildlife sanctuaries and amidst political fear-mongering. 

For the Berlin Meeting, the friends give insights into their wolf related practices and share their recent work in a (at times buzzing) environment that combines installations, a lecture performance, a series of “toasts to howling” and a concert featuring extended piano, violin, theremin, cello, electronics and voices.

INFORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY

Performance: Augustin Maurs, Andrea Neumann, Zaher Alkaei, Annika Larsson (extended piano, violin, theremin, cello, electronics and voices)Special guests: Bone Bonkers and the Human, Neo Hülcker, Satch Hoyt a.o.

A project by Friends of the Wolf Tone in collaboration with Sophiensæle. With the kind support of inm – initiative neue musik berlin e.V. Media partners: Missy Magazine, Siegessäule, taz.

Next date:

• Date Saturday, 16/May/2026 20:00
• Venue Sophiensaele - Kantine
• Address Sophienstraße 18, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
• Price from €25.00

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