Acoustic Ecology

SFU 40 Celebrating Electroacoustic Music at Simon Fraser University 1965-2005 – http://www.SFU.ca – concert including Barry Truax, Jean Piché, Martin Gotfrit, Arne Eigenfeldt, Anne Holmes, Martin Bartlett, Hildegard Westerkamp, John Oswald, sylvi macCormac (Voices of a Place)

A Brief History of Electroacoustic Music at SFU The Electronic Music Studio at Simon Fraser University was founded by R. Murray Schafer when the university opened in 1965, the third such studio in Canada, after the University of Toronto and McGill. It was located in the basement of the SFU Theatre as part of the Centre for Communication and the Arts. Composers such as Schafer, Anthony Gnazzo, Peter Huse, Bruce Davis, Don Druick, Phillip Werren, David Keane and Micheline Coulombe Saint-Marcoux, among others worked there in the early days. Schafer moved the studio to the newly formed Department of Communication Studies in 1972 as the home of the World Soundscape Project, calling it the Sonic Research Studio and giving it a focus on environmental sound recordings. Barry Truax arrived in 1973 bringing an emphasis on computer music synthesis and composition and succeeded Schafer in 1975. With the creation of a contemporary music program a few years later, the studio in the SFU Theatre was revitalized and used for teaching, under the guidance of Martin Bartlett, Martin Gotfrit and Arne Eigenfeldt who added their interest in live electronics. Over the years, both studios have trained countless young composers and hosted international visitors, as well as the 1985 International Computer Music Conference. Numerous national and international awards, as well as published recordings, concert performances and broadcasts around the world have resulted from this activity. (from http://www.sfu.ca/~truax)

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De Constructing Abuse  (12:30) 2004

Commissioned   by   NAISA   &     CBC

http://www.NAISA.ca/DeepWireless   &   http://www.CBC.ca/outfront -

DEEP WIRELESS CD I 2004 includes Railway Lines : Trains of Thought (7:5o) Witness: Round journey (7:oo xrpt) does this SOUND like me ? (1:oo:oo) online  http://www.naisa.ca/deepwireless/Radio.html

Now in its third year, New Adventures in Sound Art is again producing the commission/residency opportunity as part of Deep Wireless, co-produced with CBC Radio’s “Out Front” and Charles Street Video. 2004 Deep Wireless artists are Marilyn Lerner, sylvi macCormac, Marion van der Zon and Richard Windeyer, with peices broadcast on CBC Radio from May 24-27 and spatialized versions presented on May 28th & 29th as part of the “Radio Theatre” performances at the Latvian House.De Constructing Abuse (12:30) by sylvi macCormac appears on Raven Shadows CD (2006)

Railway Lines : Trains of Thought (7:50) from Deep Wireless CD I also appears  online at Third Coast Festival

http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/library/search?q=sylvi+macCormac

http://www.ThirdCoastFestival.org/behind_scenes_DeepWireless.asp

Radio Art from Canada – sylvi macCormac writes : Railway Lines: Trains of Thought stretches the Boundaries of Radio by collaging sound, story and song in an aural journey. This composition strives to extend the familiar structures of radio and music, by transforming sound sources with signal processing and combining them in creative ways, while inviting the listener into an imaginary journey along metaphoric Railway Lines. A child of Irish Immigrants who grew up on the West Coast of Canada, though no longer able to walk or play an instrument because of Multiple Sclerosis, I am “still brave” because of my community and because Electroacoustic Soundscape composition and “New and Improved” Radio provides me access to transcend Dis-Ability and continue to explore Fields of Sound. The Railway has both transported and run over many lives, both first nations and immigrants, in its quest for expansion and development. The Railway, while being sold out from under our feet, is still symbolic of various lines (commodities/communication/cultures) that break us apart and vibrant lines that bind us together as community in the unique and changing cultural horizon that is Canada.

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http://www.CBC.ca/insite/SOUNDS_LIKE_CANADA/2003/6/25.html

In a series on accessibility we spoke to Sylvi MacCormac. She’s a soundscape artist and musician who’s trying to break down some of those barriers through her work. She’s created the Wheels Project. That’s a collection of soundscapes and musical compositions featuring the voices of people with disabilities. http://www.vams.org

WATER RUSHIN’ THROUGH MY BRAIN Duration: 00:04:28 Work Name: WATER RUSHIN’ THROUGH MY BRAIN/ MacCORMAC

CANADA’s FAVOURITE SONG – Last week we asked you tell us about your favourite Canadian song. We’ll read some special letters and play some special Canadian music. THE HOCKEY SONG Duration: 00:02:09 Work Name: THE HOCKEY SONG/CONNORS, STOMPIN’ TOM

Host, St-Laurent, Bernard – Exec Producer, Sandell, Neil – Studio Producer, Parise, Michelle – Studio Tech, Hoffman, Kent

exerpted from www site of Sounds Like Canada

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Leif Brush’s soundsworks perspective by macCormac / sylvi, 2001 & 2003 http://www.freetoears.net/

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EARS : Electroacoustic Resource Site

http://www.ears.dmu.ac.uk/spip.php?rubrique12

Acoustic Ecology
[Disciplines of Study [DoS]  >  Acoustic Communication >  Soundscape Studies]

Ecology is the study of the relationship between individuals and communities and their environment. Acoustic or soundscape ecology is thus the study of the effects of the acoustic environment, or soundscape, on the physical responses or behavioural characteristics of those living within it. Its particular aim is to draw attention to imbalances which may have unhealthy or inimical effects. (Source: Barry Truax – Handbook for Acoustic Ecology CD-ROM Edition. Cambridge Street Publishing, 1999 – CSR-CDR 9901)

See also:
Acoustic Communication, Soundscape Studies

Bibliography includes:

MACCORMAC, Sylvi (1999). Reflections on Hildegard Westerkamp’s Talking Rain, Musicworks, No 74. Toronto: Music Gallery: 9-13. (English)

Keyword(s): Acoustic Ecology ,  Soundwalk ,  Soundscape Composition ,  Acoustics

Abstract:

The author describes the work Talking Rain by Hildegard Westerkamp as a music as an intersection between sound and being, acoustics and ecology. This work mixed urban sounds and the sound of rain to demonstrate the possibility of living in ecological harmony.

About EARS – About the ElectroAcoustic Resource Site project

The ElectroAcoustic Resource Site (EARS) project has been established to provide resources for those wishing to conduct research in the area of electroacoustic music studies. EARS will take the form of a structured Internet portal supported by extensive bibliographical tools. To aid the greater understanding of the opportunities offered by these radical forms of sound organisation, as well as their cultural impact, the project will cite (or link directly to) texts, titles, abstracts, images, audio and audio-visual files, and other relevant formats. The project will strive to conceive of electroacoustic music in its widest possible sense, acknowledge the interdisciplinary nature of the field, and aspire to the greatest possible breadth and inclusiveness.

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2004 – CREATIVE RADIO: Documentary, Fiction, Story. Instructor:Joan Schuman, New School Univ, Dept of Journalism http://www.dialnsa.edu – curriculum includes Voices of a Place : Hildegard Westerkamp inside the Soundscape (1998) from Soundscape Minimalism : Music Works #74 1999 www.musicworks.ca

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2004 – Rivershed Society of British Columbia, Sustainable Living Leadership Program develops young leaders educating them in the principles and theories of sustainable living and community stewardship. “To create an enduring society, we need a system of commerce and production where each and every act is inherently sustainable and restorative … ” Paul Hawken – documentary video includes 100 MPH from Phoenix – http://www.rivershed.com/

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2004 – Sound for Walking Woman, a Video by Margaret Dragu & Lorna Boschman that documents an all-day community participation performance. Beginning and ending on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, a group of Vancouver and Richmond citizens put on their walking shoes and dance, walk, and celebrate the pedestrian and bus lifestyle. Walking Woman = dance + live music + parade + tour + ecology + community + celebration and encourages the viewer to ask questions about the nature and limits of public art, spectacle, performance, community, and inclusion. Inspired by the visual art by Michael Snow bearing the same name, Walking Woman shows community art in action and is simply a whole lot of fun. http://www.vtape.org

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Canadian Music Centre – Electricities / Électricités CD 2003 – http://www.musiccentre.ca – including ” the gently haunting ambience of Sylvi MacCormac’s ‘penny: a process’ … ” Electricities/Électricités’ offers 37 new windows in a brief tour into the extraordinarily rich and divers history, geography and currents of Canadian electroacoustic music drawn from the huge catalogue of the Canadian Music Centre’s Distribution Service. ‘Electricities / Électricités’ travels through time, from Hugh LeCaine’s 1957 pioneering and artful experiments with the world’s first ‘Sackbut’ synthesizer on ‘The Burning Deck’ and Ann Southam’s sparse and elegant ‘Reprieve’ from 1979, to the cutting edge and ground breaking contemporary works of Robert Normandeau and Louis Dufort.”

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Co-Op Radio: Changing Times (42:30) 2002 with Radio Archives Interviews Field Recordings

w Christopher Clapper homeless on th streets & Buffy Sainte-Marie bkwrds

(NOT for SALE) Co-op Radio Sound Art Vol II – http://www.coopradio.org

does this SOUND like me ? w th voices of 21 artists w dis abilities (1:00:00) 2001 composed for KickstART! Society for Disability Arts & Culture http://www.s4dac.org Outside the Lines: self portaits by artists with disabilities – Pendulum Gallery 2001 KickstART! : Celebration of Disability Arts & Culture – Roundhouse 2001 CBC AM http://www.cbc.ca/SoundslikeCanada (June 25/July 28) 2003 5th WHEEL see http://www.reachdisability.org/vams/vams_wheels.html

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Witness: Round Journey (20:00) 2000  http://www.utsam-witness.ca Huy chewx a / Thank you for the honour and for listening. This is my attempt at an expression of the essence of Uts’am / Witness through sound. “We have never stopped being nature” (Slhalnãy Sp’ãkwus Nancy Bleck ). We will never stop being nature unless nature itself ceases to exist. We are voices of the city, country, forest and wilderness.

Soundscape composed with Squamish Spirit Song, Journey Song and Honour Song as sung by Telálsemkin Siyám (Chief Bill Williams), Kwalucton, William Nahanee, Aaron Nelson-Moody et al. Wilderness Soundscapes and Voices were recorded around the Elaho River, the Carnegie & Roundhouse Commmunity Centres Vancouver BC Canada 97-99. Voices: Telálsemkin Siyám, Nancy Bleck Slhalnãy Sp’ãkwus, John Clarke Xwexwsélkn , Amir Ali Alibhai, Paul Hundal, Joan, Drew Leetham, William Nahanee, Aaron Nelson-Moody, Shel Neufeld, a young english boy, Marie Preissl, Bob Turner, Ceise Wyss and a young squamish girl.

Thanks also to http://www.SFU.ca/~Truax for guidance and http://www.richmondsounddesign.com for the Audio Box. This is a stereo mix of an octophonic work composed w th Audio Box @ SFU 2000. CD will be available with proceeds to http://www.utsam-witness.ca & http://www.wepbc.ca

Uts’am & Cedar Woman Exhibition w Fabric Installation by Andrea Zimmer, RoundHouse 2001 Audio Engineering Society ,Vancouver Chapter, Landmark 2001 – Witness: Round Journey & Talk “Field o Sound: is Stochastic a Dirty Word ? Soundscape Composition w the Audio Box” LEAPS (Live Electronic Arts Performance Series) Van Pro Musica w photos in slow dissolve by John Clarke Xwexwsélkn 2000 Emily Carr IAD, Faculty presentation of Witness: Round Journey with the photography of Nancy Bleck Slhalnãy Sp’ãkwus 2000

2004 Deep Wireless I CD – Round Journey (7:10 xcrpt) with Railway Lines: Trains of Thought – http://www.deepwireless.ca

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W.A.T.E.R.S. Women and the Environment Radio Series 1996

A radio series distributed internationally and broadcast on Vancouver Co-op Radio 102.7FM Theme Music: Sylvi’s song Coastal Chant from Coastal Chants 1992 – http://www.coopradio.org

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The Shape Shifter 1992 Spirit Song Theatre production
Writer: Ronnie Way, including music by Paul Horn and Sylvi

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Song for Carmanagh 1990 by Tippy Agogo on Sounds of Our Voices WC 2 Compilation for Western Canada Wilderness Committee with Tippy Agogo, Jenny Allen, and John Mann (Spirit of the West)