EXPRIMENTAL & COMMUNITY

experimental

Great fun trying out some new and old pieces on 29th August 2011 at The Croft in Bristol

Here's a recording of a couple of the results

Nothing is lost, only altered

General instructions

Use multiple microphones, amplification and speakers for each structure

Make the amplified sound as natural as possible

Do not ‘treat’ the sounds in any way other than through natural distortion and feedback

Do not influence the resultant noise once the systems have been activated

Specific instructions

Choose an event site (where the event happens)
Choose a safe listening point where the event can be heard from the site
In choosing the event space and listening point try to use the natural acoustics of the landscape to enhance the acoustic and amplified sound of the event
Choose an event start time
Duration of event to be 30 minutes
Create a structure (structure 1) that is highly combustible and attach a fuse from the listening point
Create a large unstable structure (structure 2) out of resonant materials on top of structure 1
Create a structure (structure 3) that naturally amplifies and alters the sound of running water and is fed by a hosepipe at the listening point
Structure 3 should be designed so that the water should overflow onto structures 1 and 2 and extinguish the fire in about 10 minutes
Ignite fuse 10 minutes after start time
Feed water into the structure 3 20 minutes after the start time using the hosepipes from the listening point

Turn off any amplification after 30 minutes

Generations 1

take piece of music

fix exact coordinates for a venue

perform every 10 years to the exact anniversary

Generations 2

take piece of music up to 5 minutes long

perform every 10 years to the exact anniversary

Generations 3

create a sonic event

record events and interview audience reaction on video

replay video recoding 1 year later

repeat actions two and three for as long as possible

ZOO

equipment

6 cordless microphones
6 amplifiers
6 speakers
6 animals

instructions

Attach cordless microphones to 6 live animals

Do not harm in any way
Create a listening point where the animals cannot be seen
Amplify sound but do not add any effects
Arrange 6 speakers in a semicircle
Continue for one hour

community

I have been involved in community music project all my life... mostly without even knowing it. Starting with school and church choirs and moving on to the local Arts Centre and Folk Club circuit in North London and East Anglia. I have also been involved in various musical collectives and, more recently, The Guitar Circle. For me now it’s all about reflecting and celebrating the culture and communities I’m working in. Creating community music projects that are important and great fun to be part of.

My projects are exemplified in the Larkhall Festiva l and the ebb of acrophobia performed in Trafalgar Square with over 50 musicians from all over the UK turning up on the day to participate. Amazing, they had no rehearsal but took ideas and concepts from my website beforehand.

The music can be improvisational and experimental in nature, but often underpinned by some directions or guidelines. There is usually no musical ability required as a basis for participation.

If you enjoy participating in these kind of events please let me know.