Artists around the world create sound art inspired by listening to BBC World Service
Artists and
musicians around the world were asked to create sound art inspired by
listening to the BBC World Service's The World Today.
BBC World Service Arts Correspondent Lawrence
Pollard asked critically acclaimed musician and sound art historian
David Toop to explain what makes the art of noise.
David says: "Noise is the raw material, if you
believe like American musical innovator John Cage that there's little
difference between listening to music, silence or noise, they're all
points on the same range. Any aspect of that range is interesting material
for a sound artist."
The European Commission has asked UK sound artist Scanner to create a new anthem for Europe which is due to be unveiled next month.
He used the names of the countries mentioned in one
edition of The World Today programme and samples from the theme tune.
He says: "The piece was created to capture the
essence of what BBC World Service is about, that it is international,
allowing you to travel the world while sitting on your bed at home."
Described as a "master of the medium" by The
New York Times, electronic musician Stephen Vitiello sampled
The World Today's signature tune, altering it beyond recognition.
"I wanted to draw the listener's attention to
the bits of sound that we don't usually hear," he says.
Award-winning South African artist James Webb
placed microphones around his home city of Cape Town and recorded the
sound of the city's historic cannon firing at midday from 12 points
of historical, social and economic interest to create his piece.
We also hear from Brisbane based sound artist Lawrence
English - who interprets The World Today with a journey into
the sea and the company of some rather noisy fish - Vietnamese Pop Idol
judge Tri Minh and musician Paulo Vivacqua
from Rio de Janeiro.
Sound art will feature on The World Today from Monday
23 August 2004.
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