Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Active Crossover - A Call for Participants

ACTIVE CROSSOVER

Field Recording Workshop - Simon Whetham

Call for participants

It could be said that sounds evoke memories and emotions more strongly than photographs, transporting you back in time and space…..

And although we are surrounded by sound all the time, you can hear it, but how often do you really listen?

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to stop hearing sound? You can close your eyes easily, but the ears are not so simple. And often, if you are able to shield your ears from loud or undesirable sounds, you can still feel them with your body as the vibrations enter you, move you, shake you.

Simon Whetham, from Bristol, UK, composes new sound environments through phonography: the evocative art of using field recordings of natural sounds. Hearing, and then capturing the music in everyday noises, Simon draws the listener's attention to the subtle details and sound layers commonly disregarded.

Simon has both performed extensively and had his work presented in many galleries in the UK and in Europe. His sound compositions have been released through a number of specialist record labels, such as Trente Oiseaux, Entr'acte and Gruenrekorder, with forthcoming releases from 1000fussler, And/OAR, Con-V and Lens Records. Visit www.simonwhetham.co.uk and www.myspace.com/simonwhetham to hear work and view past projects.

Currently an Artist in Residence at the Art Container, Simon will be running field recording workshops May26-28 2009.


Workshop Descriptions May 26-28

The workshops will take place at the Art Container, Madara 22, Tallinn. Each workshop session costs 100 kroon (or 150 Kroon for one of the first two sessions and the third advanced session), which includes a CD of the sounds recorded during the workshop for each participant. Recordings made during the workshops will be featured on a webpage, accessible via links though the Polymer, Art Container and Simon's websites, and are to be included in a touring exhibition in the UK following Simon's residency. The recordings will also be included during a performance May 27 20:00.

Everyone is welcome to participate, from those who know nothing about sound recording, to experienced musicians, sound engineers and artists, who may be willing to learn new techniques or share their ideas.


May 26 14:00-18:00

An introduction to field recording , Simon's work, methods and equipment – which include digital recorders by Edirol and Zoom, an extremely directional Sennheiser microphone, self-built microphones that detect sound through surfaces and an Aquarian hydrophone that records sounds under water.

There will be a presentation of Tallinn sounds captured during Simon's current residency.

Participants will go on a short walk while blindfolded, experiencing the sounds of the city without visual distractions, to realise how complex the sound environment is.


May 27 14:00-18:00

An introduction to field recording , Simon's work, methods and equipment – which include digital recorders by Edirol and Zoom, an extremely directional Sennheiser microphone, self-built microphones that detect sound through surfaces and an Aquarian hydrophone that records sounds under water.

There will be a presentation of Tallinn sounds captured during Simon's current residency.

Participants will go on a short walk while blindfolded, experiencing the sounds of the city without visual distractions, to realise how complex the sound environment is.


Groups will be limited to ten participants. Two days of workshops are offered due to the response to the workshop.

If you have access to any portable digital recording device please bring it with you!

To pre-register to participate in the workshop, please contact Simon: simon@simonwhetham.co.uk

May 27th, 20:00
S
ound performance event, featuring Simon Whetham and John Grzinich from Moks, with more music and an exhibition at Polymer and Art Container. All welcome!


May 28 14:00-18:00

The session on 28th will introduce basic sound editing and composition techniques. For this participants will require a laptop, and the free software application Audacity (www.audacity.sourceforge.net).

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