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Flies, crows and crashing waves: the sounds that define Perth Flies, crows and crashing waves: the sounds that define Perth
(6 months later)
Tod Machover is creating a symphony for Perth. Or, more precisely, a symphony with Perth. Between a Desert and the Deep Blue Sea, which will premiere on March 1, will be created from sounds recorded by Machover and Perth residents in and around the city, in the same manner as city-made symphonies in Edinburgh and Toronto. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and his band of researchers have been collecting sounds and encouraging citizens to manipulate them via special apps, in preparation for a performance with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. It’s truly collaborative music – and hugely exciting.Tod Machover is creating a symphony for Perth. Or, more precisely, a symphony with Perth. Between a Desert and the Deep Blue Sea, which will premiere on March 1, will be created from sounds recorded by Machover and Perth residents in and around the city, in the same manner as city-made symphonies in Edinburgh and Toronto. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and his band of researchers have been collecting sounds and encouraging citizens to manipulate them via special apps, in preparation for a performance with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. It’s truly collaborative music – and hugely exciting.
We asked Machover to share his 10 favourite sounds of Perth with us, all of which will find their way into the symphony. Here he tells us a little about them – and you can listen to each of them as Tanya Voltchanskaya offers some images of the city to go with the distinctive sounds. We asked Machover to share his 10 favourite sounds of Perth with us, all of which will find their way into the symphony. Here he tells us a little about them – and you can listen to each of them as Tanya Voltchanskaya offers some images of the city to go with the distinctive sounds.
1. Ocean waves at Cottesloe beach1. Ocean waves at Cottesloe beach
This is self-explanatory, but pretty overpowering.This is self-explanatory, but pretty overpowering.
2. Flies and cicadas2. Flies and cicadas
The flies overwhelmed me as soon as I got off the plane in Perth for my first visit in October. I was delighted that I received a number of fly and cicada recordings; this was one of my favourites.The flies overwhelmed me as soon as I got off the plane in Perth for my first visit in October. I was delighted that I received a number of fly and cicada recordings; this was one of my favourites.
3. Crows3. Crows
I’ve never heard anything like the Australian crows in Perth; they seem to be singing some weird opera music: sad, soulful and intelligent. These were recorded in Kings Park.I’ve never heard anything like the Australian crows in Perth; they seem to be singing some weird opera music: sad, soulful and intelligent. These were recorded in Kings Park.
4. Cockatoos4. Cockatoos
I don’t know about elsewhere, but Perth cockatoos are particularly unhinged. They’ll repeat the same declamation for a very long time, like these birds recorded outside a private house, not far from Hyde Park.I don’t know about elsewhere, but Perth cockatoos are particularly unhinged. They’ll repeat the same declamation for a very long time, like these birds recorded outside a private house, not far from Hyde Park.
5. Cello, voices and didgeridoo5. Cello, voices and didgeridoo
This recording was made at an improvisation session that I did with some local musicians. I was playing cello (borrowed from a symphony player) and the blend with traditional voice and didgeridoo was exciting, with all sounds being in a similar range, starting on low-D and extending throughout the range of human voice.This recording was made at an improvisation session that I did with some local musicians. I was playing cello (borrowed from a symphony player) and the blend with traditional voice and didgeridoo was exciting, with all sounds being in a similar range, starting on low-D and extending throughout the range of human voice.
6. Mine sounds from Broome6. Mine sounds from Broome
I received a number of these, and these are my favourites.I received a number of these, and these are my favourites.
7. A 64-year-old man talking about … flies!7. A 64-year-old man talking about … flies!
This was sent by a young musician who recorded her father speaking about flies, how many there were this season, and how the right name for them is “bastards”.This was sent by a young musician who recorded her father speaking about flies, how many there were this season, and how the right name for them is “bastards”.
8. City cafe8. City cafe
This was sent from a cafe in the central business district.This was sent from a cafe in the central business district.
9. Northbridge on Friday evening9. Northbridge on Friday evening
Somebody zigzagged through Northbridge streets that had erupted with club music, street performers, roving crowds – the usual for weekend evening – and sent them to us.Somebody zigzagged through Northbridge streets that had erupted with club music, street performers, roving crowds – the usual for weekend evening – and sent them to us.
10. Improvisation by young Perth musicians10. Improvisation by young Perth musicians
This segment was recorded at a wonderful session with a very heterogeneous group of young Perth musicians, ranging from piano to laptop, bass clarinet to electric guitar, and featuring a duo of a violinists performing with a pedal-digital-effects operator. I asked them to do a series of improvs reflecting different moods of Perth, and this is one of the quieter, lovelier moments. The entire session was truly exciting, and my edited, mashed-up version will have a prominent place in the central “WITHIN: Perth Drone” movement of Perth Symphony.This segment was recorded at a wonderful session with a very heterogeneous group of young Perth musicians, ranging from piano to laptop, bass clarinet to electric guitar, and featuring a duo of a violinists performing with a pedal-digital-effects operator. I asked them to do a series of improvs reflecting different moods of Perth, and this is one of the quieter, lovelier moments. The entire session was truly exciting, and my edited, mashed-up version will have a prominent place in the central “WITHIN: Perth Drone” movement of Perth Symphony.