Water and the World
From 2004-2005, I lived on East 6th Street between Avenue C and D in the East Village in Manhattan. I remember walking along the East River. The disconcerting experience of being near this waterway was that I never heard the water. The swoosh of cars along East River Drive drowned out the lap of the river against the concrete wall.
From October 27 to November 1, the Electronic Music Foundation presents Ear to the Earth 2010: Water and the World throughout New York City. Included in the events are a number of soundscapes and sound mappings. The festival features composers, sound artists, performers and thinkers that include:
- R. Murray Schafer (composer and founder of the World Soundscape Project)
- Bernie Krause (bioacoustician and founder of Wild Sanctuary, Inc.)
- Francisco Lopez (sound artist who founded the Mamori Sound Project)
- Yolande Harris (artist/composer who researches Scorescapes)
- Tomoko Sauvage (hydrophone and water bowl musician)
- Aviva Rahmani (ecological artist in charge of the Gulf to Gulf project)
- and many many more…
As the rain falls in Seattle, I think of listening to New York wanting to hear the water of the East River and hearing only the sounds of the city. If you attend Water and the World in New York this week, let me know what you hear.
Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas is a site-responsive project of 64 musical miniatures for hiking opera singers and water percussionists. The work is available as site-responsive performances and a media installation.
