13 mins. total – 8-channel diffusion: British work within the Radio Series. As it consists of five sections, it can also be performed as a suite.
Programme note: This eight-channel work is the British follow-up of the 2007 GRM commissioned work, Oh là la radio, the first work in the Radio Series. It is also this series’ most often performed work. Like many of my recent works, it focuses on recycling sounds (aka appropriation, plundering, sampling, etc.). All works in this series use diverse radio broadcast recordings covering very few days as source material taken from BBC radio stations. Other than the final manipulated sound, all of the samples are presented in their original state. The role I chose was simply to re-compose this sound material. For those familiar with the BBC, many familiar voices and logos can be heard. The piece works both at the level of heightened listening – understanding every word spoken if that is what you want to pay attention to – and reduced listening – catching the occasional phrase, but listening to the work as organised sound. The piece seeks to take the known, tilt it ever so slightly and re-present it as a sound-based artwork. The five movements are called:
- Good Morning (2.23)
- The News(?) (3.11)
- A microphone each and no idea what they’re going to say (1.51)
- Musica Nova (2.59)
- Etc. (2.45)
Given the fact that it was composed in sections, this piece has often been interspersed amongst other works, similar to a radio series where one is ideally looking forward to what comes next (like a soap opera).
Humour is one of the work’s key elements. As far as copyright is concerned … don’t ask.
The audio below is its binaural version.
1. Good Morning
2. The News(?)
3. ‘A microphone each and no idea what they’re going to say’
4. Musica Nova
5. Etc.