Vox Mecanix
Media:
Sound work
Duration: 10'00
Date: 1996
Audio
Extract 1 (Short)
File Size:93kb Duration: 0'13
Audio Extract 2 (Long)
File Size: 1.75Mb Duration: 4'06
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I
wanted to work exclusively with vocal sounds, but to try to ignore entirely
such things as words and sentences. Instead I decided to concentrate
on ways in which the human voice communicates without recourse to the
intricacies of language. I wanted to dig down to the deepest level and
lay bare a universal language of squeaks and grunts, which might communicate
emotion in the most direct manner, with as few civilising niceties as
possible!
In this endeavour, I had two primary influences. The first was that
of various Dada writers/performers, in particular Kurt Schwitters. Some
of the vocal patterns that I used as my source material were based on
quotations from Schwitters' Ursonate, which was a particularly
strong influence.
The second was that of early animated cartoons, such as those of Tex
Avery. I wanted to make something that had the same kind of manic and
visceral energy as an Avery cartoon, the crude caricature and capricious,
free-form narrative, and, of course, the humour.
In the composition of the piece, I also concentrated very much on abstract
'musical' parameters, in particular rhythm. In this, I was also inspired
by the rhythmic patterning of Ursonate, but took such patterning
a stage further using basic Stravinsky-esque cell techniques.
Additional
Information
- Created in the studios of the University of Birmingham.
- Premiered August
1996 at the Dartington International Summer School.
- Received a mention
at Bourges, 1997.
- Performed at
BEAST rumours at the Midlands Arts Centre, April 1997.
- Broadcast as
part of the 1998 NOW festival in Nottingham.
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