Worried Pigeons, Sonic Art & Cumbria Floods
As you will know from reading this Sonic Horns Blog, my everyday working life revolves around audiosonics and, in particular sonic horn technologies. It is therefore not surprising that pretty much anything involving 'sonics' of any kind always attracts my interest and attention. A good example happened this last February when I wrote a Sonic Valentine post; my fiancee Shirley's purchase of a new jewelry cleaner became an item of fascination for me - it was a "Sonic Wave Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner" of all things. How appropriate is that?!
Recently a BBC radio programme discussing new art forms caught my ear. They were discussing 'Sonic Art' and in particular "the world's first permanent outdoor 3D soundfield" which had been installed in Workington in Cumbria. Essentially it is a canopy with speakers inside that create an all-round-the room sound experience that you get in the very best cinemas - but more so! The installation has what the creators call a 'soundscape' with recorded noises of all manner of things including birds, trains, bells and human voices. Apparently local pigeons hearing seagulls but not being able to see them were reported to look rather bemused!
What is perhaps most appropriate about this post is not just the 'sonic' element but the fact that this unique piece of Sonic Art is in Workington Cumbria - a place that has featured in the world's headlines the last few days because of the unprecedented flooding in that particular area of Britain. The devastation around Workington included collapsed bridges and the tragedy of a local policeman's death plus many people losing their homes and possessions to the flood waters. Whether the town's 3D outdoor soundfield is still intact I don't know. I have Google'd a few searches on it but no relevant news has been forthcoming. If I find out, I will let you know.
In the meantime, if you would like to help, the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund is accepting donations online from anyone who would like to help the people of Workington and the other affected areas of Cumbria.
Recently a BBC radio programme discussing new art forms caught my ear. They were discussing 'Sonic Art' and in particular "the world's first permanent outdoor 3D soundfield" which had been installed in Workington in Cumbria. Essentially it is a canopy with speakers inside that create an all-round-the room sound experience that you get in the very best cinemas - but more so! The installation has what the creators call a 'soundscape' with recorded noises of all manner of things including birds, trains, bells and human voices. Apparently local pigeons hearing seagulls but not being able to see them were reported to look rather bemused!
What is perhaps most appropriate about this post is not just the 'sonic' element but the fact that this unique piece of Sonic Art is in Workington Cumbria - a place that has featured in the world's headlines the last few days because of the unprecedented flooding in that particular area of Britain. The devastation around Workington included collapsed bridges and the tragedy of a local policeman's death plus many people losing their homes and possessions to the flood waters. Whether the town's 3D outdoor soundfield is still intact I don't know. I have Google'd a few searches on it but no relevant news has been forthcoming. If I find out, I will let you know.
In the meantime, if you would like to help, the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund is accepting donations online from anyone who would like to help the people of Workington and the other affected areas of Cumbria.
posted by DFC at
12:43 AM
