Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) — Music studio for people with disabilities;

Wheel No.3

Spirit Wheels : Journey – part 1 of Puppet Opera in 3 parts (3:06) 1997

words & voices: Geoff McMurchy (& metal sculpture), Anastasia Rudkievich Briggs, Jayne Dinsmore, Daniel Hunt, Philip Murphy (& penny whistle traditional … the hag with the money) words, recordings & composing: sylvi macCormac

Spirit Wheels: Journey 3:07 (1997)

can be heard @ www.VAMS.org

Spirit Wheels: Journey (xrpt)

accompanys paralympic dancer Kelly Smith with wheelchair & metal wings,

choreography & metal wings by Geoff McMurchy

included in the documentary -

Shameless: the ART of Disability (2006) – http://www.NFB.ca -

directed and written by Bonnie Sherr-Klein, producer Tracey Frieson

collaborating artists Persimmon Blackbridge, Catherine Frazee, Geoff McMurchy, David Roth

editor Lara Mazur, cinematographer Kirk Tougas, composer Veda Hille, assistant director Teri Snelgrove, location sound recording Jeff Henschel, sound supervisor Gael MacLean

also printed on

Presence II CD (2000) – http://cec.concordia.ca

Voices & Wheels CD (2000) – http://www.sylvi.ca -

______________________________________________________

Wheel 3.5 aka Wheel No.4

Penny : a process (3:07) 1998 is printed on

Canadian Music Centre – http://www.musiccentre.ca -

Electricities / Électricités CD (2003) -

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. This CD sampler includes excerpts from some of the most innovative and exciting electroacoustic music happening in Canada over the past five decades.’

also printed on
Presence III CD (2002) - http://cec.concordia.ca -
Voices & Wheels CD (2000) - http://www.sylvi.ca -

Penny : a process (3:07) 1998

voice & penny whistle: Philip Murphy; words, recording & composing: sylvi

a Choir of Voices ? a Flocking of Birds ? an Immense Gong ? Nõ ?

This piece was created with signal processing transforming the source sounds of a penny whistle and the voice of Philip Murphy speaking words from Composition.

also printed on

Presence III CD (2002) - http://cec.concordia.ca – Performed at Sonic Boom 2001

Penny in Mexico

http://cec.concordia.ca/econtact/9_2/matthews.html

VISIONAS SONORAS
MEXICO CITY AND MORALIA (MEXICO),
SEPTEMBER 20–28, 2006

By Michael Matthews
University of Manitoba

On Thursday I presented a lecture on Canadian electroacoustic music. Considering the limited time frame allotted (one hour) I tried to offer some degree of overview balanced with some degree of historical perspective. Excerpts that I played included:

• Hugh Le Caine — Dripsody (1955) [on SONUS.ca]
• Bengt Hambraeus — Intrada: “Calls” (1975)
• Francis Dhomont — … mourir un peu: Thème de la fuite (1984–87)
• Gustav Ciamaga — Pour M (1987)
• Sergio Barroso — La Fiesta (1989)
• sylvi macCormac — penny: a process (1998) [on SONUS.ca]
• Ian Chuprun — “I was very safe… in my dream” (1998) [on SONUS.ca]
• Michael Matthews — Away, tear away (2003)

In addition to playing musical excerpts, I spoke a bit about some of the regional activity in Canada, mentioning many of the studios and giving a bit of background on their history and development. A brief question and answer session closed the presentation.

Visiones Sonoras 2006 http://www.visionessonoras.org
Michael Matthews http://www.michaelmatthews.net
Originally published in eContact! 9.2 Canadian Regions: The Prairies. Montréal:
Communauté électroacoustique canadienne / Canadian Electroacoustic Community, March 2007.

__________________________________

Wheel No. 6

does this SOUND like me ? w th voices of 21 artists w dis abilities (1:00:00) 2001

composed for th 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

does this SOUND like me ? (5:42) xrpt is printed on Raven Shadows CD (2006)

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

including excerpt of does this SOUND like me ?

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

CANADA 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 ?Recording Title (CD or Album): CONTACT 3/ STOMPIN’ TOM CONNORS Spine: ACD 1466 ?Label Name: ATTIC RECORDS ???ACCESSIBILITY

Sylvi MacCormac is a soundscape composer who is trying to break down perceptions about people with disabilities through her work. URL: http://www.sylvi.ca/ URL: http://www.disabilityfoundation.org/vams?
artist, Sylvi MacCormac

SUBJECT: accessibility; disabilities x?
WATER RUSHIN……’ THROUGH MY BRAIN Duration: 00:04:28
Work Name: WATER RUSHIN……’ THROUGH MY BRAIN/ MacCORMAC, S ?Recording Title (CD or Album): TOO YOUNG TOO OLD/MacCORMAC, SYLVI ?Label Name: SEE THROUGH PUBLISHING/SOCAN ? ? ?exerpted from www site of CBC Sounds Like Canada

_______________________________________

Wheel No.5

Railway Lines : Trains of Thought (7:50) 1998

A Canadian story about coming home along poetic-aural-historic Railway Lines

with 1888 Steam Engine & Royal Hudson and from World Soundscape Project Archives(SFU);

Antique Miniature Train recorded 1998 @ The Railway Club (Vancouver Canada),

voices: Gordon Cobb & sylvi; guitar, song/story lines, recordings & composing: sylvi macCormac

published & on line @

http://www.deepwireless.ca – Deep Wireless CD I 2004 -

http://www.ThirdCoastFestival.org/audio_library_2004.asp -

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

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 only

http://www.NAISA.ca/ DeepWireless - http://www.CBC.ca/OutFront

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 (7:5o) also appears on line at

http://www.ThirdCoastFestival.org/audio_library_2004.asp

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

Radio Art from Canada – sylvi macCormac on Railway Lines: Trains of Thought – 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.

__________________________________________________________________________

E.u.C.u.E. October 14, 2005, 3rd Concert, 24th Series, Report By Talli Gadon….’Railway Lines: Trains Of Thought, an eight-minute autobiographical and narrative work by Sylvi MacCormac was next. She is a Canadian composer who studied Electroacoustics at Simon Fraser University in B.C. The piece was met with surprise as the narrative format disturbed the flow and changed the direction of the concert. It was a pleasant change however. Backed by guitar and environmental sounds, she speaks of dreams and about her life with the reoccurring theme of bravery and strength through the words ‘I was a strong child, I was a brave child’. We learn of her suffering and are taken with her through her transgressions, healing and redemption from her troubled past. This piece was a little out of place and could have been more appropriately set in the program. http://www.deeprollers.com/Ecue_Report1_Talli_Gadon.htm

_____________________________________

http://www.disabilityfoundation.org/community/050210_vams_christmas_showcase.html

Composer/Musician sylvi macCormac – who played harmonica and sang harmony vocals accompanied by her recorded backing tracks of gentle guitar and voice – performed her piece, Aural Shadows, a song inspired by the beauty of the Theremin and the poetry of W.B. Yeats.

The audience was privy to a cut from macCormac……’s Wheels Project (www.sylvi.ca) – a series of compositions interweaving the sounds and voices of VAMS members and their work into electronic sound portraits. An excerpt from Spirit Wheels: Journey, composition number three in the Wheels project, was played; a tapestry of artist……’s voices, the sounds of their work and a hauntingly familiar Irish pennywhistle.

_____________________________________

opens with Horizon from Coastal Chants ( 2008 CD – 1992 Tape )

Kevin Rapanos :

in Vancouver’s GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, the Vancouver Adapted Music Society has worked to build a state of the Art recording studio fully accessible to people with Dis Abilities. VAMS was co-founded in 1988 by two Vancouver Musicians, Sam Sullivan and Dave Symington, both Quadrplegics. Sam who played the keyboards, and Dave a drummer, formed the Society to tackle the barriers faced by musicians such as themselves. Both had become Quadraplegics due to Sporting Injuries. i caught up with sylvi macCormac, one of Vancouver Adapted Music Society’s featured artists. Sylvi has Multiple Sclerosis but has none the less had a long and successful music career, partly in thanks to VAMS.

sylvi macCormac :

Now that the Studio is State of the Art, and when i say that i mean State of the HeArt, like there’s alot of heart and soul has gone into building it, because it’s allowing a place for Musicians with Dis Abilities to work to the best of our Ability, with a supportive community. It’s not really designed for Music Therapy, but as we know Music is Therapeutic, and it’s Spiritual and it’s Communication.

it’s set in GF Strong, which is a Major Rehab Hospital, so it’s unique and overwhelming because for myself with MS, i learnt in the first week at being at GF Strong, that it is Neuro Musculo Skeletal Dis Ease. So it’s overwhelming, but it’s wonderful because of the support of community.