World premiere (partial realization for 10 objects): 1982, La Rochelle Festival (France)

VENTI envisages two groups of 10 sound objects each:

10 circular aeolian harps of different sizes (40 to 110 cm in diameter), each with 4 crossed bundles of strings made of steel, brass and bronze (on average approx. 400 strings per object) are hung from the ceiling; 10 other aeolian "gongs", made of various metal rods and spirals, are placed on purpose-built stands on the floor.

This makes a total of 20 - 'venti' - aeolian objects. Each object requires a podium for 2 players.

A 120 m long compressed air tube supplies the objects with 'vento', 'wind'.

While the circular harps are set in vibration either by compressed air or by the player's breath, the aeolian 'gongs' are not only modulated in the manner described above, but are also lightly struck with various types of mallets and plectrums or even stroked with a violin bow at certain moments. The sounds of the individual objects require electronic amplification. Each object/grouping of objects is first passed through independent input channels; they are then mixed and made to sound around the audience using a penta- or octophonic system.

The two conductors - each of whom is mainly 'responsible' for one of the groups of 10, concentrating either on the 10 ring-shaped aeolian harps or the 10 assemblages of 'aeolian gongs' - realize the desired polyrhythmic combinations, which are of central importance in some phases of the work.

The concert performance of the project as a whole envisaged a continuum of nine consecutive pieces with a total duration of approx. 70 minutes. The preparatory phase was designed as a kind of workshop/seminar, with demonstrations, workshop, discussions, etc.