ANTS RECORDS

An historical document, but still present, from one of the

most important artists and scholars of the relationship

between sound and environment, promoter of a new kind of

approach to the soundscape. The ‘repechage’ of the reasons

of the experimental avantgardes and their new proposal with

the same, untouched, strength.

"SUONO AMBIENTE (SOUND ENVIRONMENT) was the title of a

series of events (listening sessions, round-table discussion,

concerts, exhibition) that, in 1977, I organized with ZONA, a

small, informal artist’s group in Florence. For the first time

themes such as soundscape studies, environmental music,

and the medical-social aspects of noise pollution, were dealt

with together. In the same year the series was repeated, in

an expanded form, at the Centro Internazionale di Brera, in

Milan. SUONO AMBIENTE was also the title of a lecture I gave,

in 1978, at DAMS in Bologna, which then was revised and

published on cassette by Harpo’s Bazaar. (With the exception

of DAMS, none of those structures has survived.)

What is the reason for this repêchage? If, on the one hand,

the theme of the Soundscape now meets with some timid

interest, on the other hand, the cultural climate in which the

first studies and artistic experiences had developed now has

almost completely disappeared. When, in the eighties, the

death of artistic and political utopias was declared, the

questions posed by the experimental avantgarde were simply

put aside.” (Albert Mayr)

track list

1) Introduzione / R. Murray Schafer / The World Soundscape

Project 29'51"

The Vancouver Soundscape (LP excerpts)

Howard Broomfield / Easter Day in Cembra (excerpt)

2) Rumore e salute nei posti di lavoro 08'50"

3) Aspetti sociali e di animazione culturale 08'04"

Guido Bresaola / Animazione sonora ambientale con

bambini

Albert Mayr / Amplificazione Disponibile

4) Il Treno di Cage 11'21"

5) La Environmental Music 20'55"

David Toop / Bi(s)onic Piece - The Howler Monkey/The

Rain/The Willing Vessel (excerpt) (Gruppo Nuova Musica)

Alvin Lucier / I am sitting in a room (Albert Mayr)

Max Eastley / Sound Examples

released 30/09/2001