The Presidential Choir
Reimagining the presidential debate as a mechanised choir to critique political performance
Type
Generative Sound Installation,
Website
Technologies
Python, Javascript, Google Text to Speech API, Max MSP
Supported by
Goldsmiths, University of London
Project Description
The Presidential Choir is an audio-visual installation that reimagines the 2024 U.S. presidential debate as a four-voice choir accompanied by an organ.
Drawing inspiration from the Baroque era’s recitativo secco style—where speech and melody blur to convey narrative with minimal accompaniment— the voices here are generated using text-to-speech technology, emphasising the mechanical and performative nature of the debate.
As the choir performs, a teleprompter displays the lyrics—direct transcripts of the debate—guiding viewers through the orchestrated rhetoric.
This visual element underscores the scripted nature of political theatre, inviting audiences to engage with the fleeting, often nonsensical content. Though the text is available for scrutiny, it reveals little of substance.
Online version
The project has been conceived as well as an online version that allows users across the world to listen and read to the music and script.
Visit the site here.
