JANEK SCHAEFER -.- ARTWORKS -.- INFORMATION -.- CONTACT



 

Aerial Aria in the aviary [2015]

 

Chorus of sixty 'Aria Birds' created from Operatic warblers
forest branches, fresh cut grass, bamboo and bluebells, feathers, neon wire, glitter.
4 channel FM transmitter, 10 vintage radios.

Given the rich musical heritage of Morley College, I wanted to explore a music related theme for this commission. I was intrigued to discover that while Gustav Holst was head of the music course [1907-1924], he composed a curious Opera called ‘The Perfect Fool’. This was a rather tongue in cheek opera, which critiqued the divide between high and low culture within the arts, and was frequently a stylistic parody, of Wagner, Verdi, and Debussy.

I collected vocal samples from 'The Perfect Fool', along with a flock of other renowned operatic warblers from the last century. By helping them each to sing tiny operatic phrases higher and faster, I have created an audio aviary full of these  new 'Aria Birds', which sing within a soundscape of rural recordings from around the world  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  An eternal dawn of the chorus.

 

Commission for The Engine Room : International Sound Art Exhibition,
Morley Gallery, 12th May - 12th June,  64 Westminster Bridge Rd, London.

 










 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shopify stats