Chill out to the amazing soundscape of Antarctica, in the heat of November, when Lawrence English performs his latest innately synaesthetic concert, Viento ‘Blizzards of Antarctica and Beyond’.
Lawrence English is a composer, media artist and curator based in Brisbane. Drawing together his interests in the activation of the body through sound, the sonic characteristics of protest and unique approaches to harmonic distortion, he delivers concerts that activate the whole body.
Much of English’s inspiration comes from nature and in the summer of 2010 he was invited to visit Antarctica under the invitation of the Argentine Antarctic Division. He has been to the end of the world and experienced temperatures of -40 degrees centigrade (with wind chill) to bring you an amazing and all-encompassing soundscape at Redland Performing Arts Centre on Friday, November 10 at 7pm.
As part of the concert English will share his experience of this breath taking journey taken whilst the scientists bunkered down in their quarters and he headed out with his recorder to face the full assault of the Patagonian winds. The Antarctic recordings were made during two blizzards, while penguins huddled together during the worst of the wind storms English captured the unique and interesting sounds.
‘Listening back to these recordings I am struck by the sheer physicality of the wind. It's rare that you feel physically reduced by the motion of air, but in both Patagonia and Antarctica that is just how I felt. A small speck of organic dust in a howling storm,’ said English of the experience and his recordings.
“I think of this as cinema for the ears. All the speakers will be on in the concert hall, creating a sound environment where the sound is all around you – like a blanket. I am very interested in sound and how it occupies the body and mind and can activate memory,” he said.
“Sound is invitational and there are truths associated with it. This concert invites you to fill in the spaces. You the audience complete the work. The creativity is in the listening and each person will base this on their interests and occupations. Unlike vision, sound is linear. it is constantly disappearing and never returned to except in memory where it calls to be present, otherwise it is never returned to again.”
English’s Viento ‘Blizzards of Antarctica and Beyond’ concert will immerse you into the sheer physicality of this wild land as part of part of the Cleveland Contemporary Music Event (CCME). The CCME is a unique opportunity to hear the best new music in Australia. In addition to this performance by Lawrence English there will also be the chance to see ELISION, Topology and The Kransky Sisters, Kupka’s Piano and David Bridie as part of this celebration in sound.
English said he believed events such as the Contemporary Music Event were important to grow and develop new concepts.
“Experience is everything. A physical sensation can be hyper realised through sound. I consider this show to be an action film for your ears. If it only reaches one person, that’s all it needs to do.”
Tickets to Viento are $20 - $45, or you can buy tickets to three or more CCME concerts for $35 each. For bookings and further information visit www.rpac.com.au or call the RPAC Box Office on 3829 8131 (booking fees are $4.10 by phone and $5 online per transaction).
