Welcome to (VR)2,
... an experience of Virtuoso Rachmaninoff in Virtual Reality.
This immersive experience is set within the grand Bolshoi Theatre. This building, finished to it’s current state in 1856, is a symbol of Russian Imperial and cultural influence. In using this theatre we are able to introduce and explore the artistry and life of the composer and once director of the Bolshoi Theatre for a 16 year period, Sergei Rachmaninoff.
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This project is a culmination in our team’s skills in 3D modelling and reconstruction, cultural heritage, and musicology. In applying these skills to our combined interest in Russian history, we are able to recreate, in the virtual sphere, the Bolshoi Theatre.
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The British Library’s collection of music scores provided access to Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# Minor, Opus 3, Number 2. This music is significant as it represents some of the last music written by Rachmaninoff preceding his four years suffering with depression. Whilst it is not known whether this piece was performed at the Bolshoi Theatre, our team used their creative license, incorporating this piece to help illustrate the artistry and depression of Rachmaninoff. Additionally, this piece when in conjunction with the grandeur of the Theatre's auditorium allows us to dwarf the viewer’ perspective, leading to a greater ability to empathise with Rachmaninoff and his struggle with mental illness.
This piece of music was crafted by Rachmaninoff previous to his major episode of depression, which ultimately caused Rachmaninoff to withdraw from music for four years. It was following this period and treatment for his then named melancholy, led him to then direct the Bolshoi Theatre for 16 years.
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In order to avoid copyright issues but still provide the musical experience our team digitised the music score available on the British Library. In using Logic Pro X we were able to create this piece, however to enrich the sound and the acoustics of the piece the add in Addictive Keys was used. This allowed us to incorporate reverb and microphone position into the final sound of the piece. Further changes were made to the timing and tempo of Rachmaninoff's piece, this made the resulting music sound more natural and like it a concert hall experience.
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The actual space within (VR)2 was created through the 3D modelling tool Autodesk Maya. In using this tool, both grand and fine details can be added into the Bolshoi Theatre making this space come alive. It was in this development phase that the conduit for the music, the piano, was created. In altering the size and ratios of the instrument, the piano begins the contort the viewers' perspective. This in turn creates a greater sense of confusion and distortion, leading to a greater empathy with Rachmaninoff and the situation he was in whilst writing this piece.
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