As it happens, Scott, Schafer is a friend and colleague. We'll
probably be joining him this summer on several projects in Ontario,
where he will be performing one of his many remarkable pieces in the
forests near Algonquin Park. Schafer is particularly interesting
because he is one of the only Western composers actually "out in the
wilds" as you say. He uses the sounds of the natural world as his
karaoke orchestra with which and to which his performers perform. A
description of his August piece, "The Enchanged Forest," can be found
at this URL http://www.patria.org/ef/index.html . This is of
particular interest for those of us curious about the connections
between the biophony and the origins of human music. Schafer is the
only Western thinker, author, graphic artist, and composer, who has
successfully come full circle to make that link, although others
might soon follow. This summer's performance will take place at a
60,000 acre site near Algonquin Park. The singers and musicians will
lead the audience into the forest at dusk and will be conducted
entirely by the insect, bird, mammal, and amphibian biophonies as
well as the geophony (non-biological sounds such as wind, weather,
etc.). Unfolding over the course of the entire night, the piece is
written to be extremely flexible depending on all the conditions
mentioned. Interesting thing about Schafer is that, while he's
well-known in all of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Canada, almonst
no one knows of him here. It's like he hasn't made the "Arts &
Leisure" section of the NYT, yet, so why bother.
I can tell you that he was seminal to most of my efforts since the
late 70s and early 80s when he was a central feature of my doctoral
thesis because of his work on the soundscape (a word he invented).
And he is at the heart of most of what I wrote in "Wild Soundscapes:
Discovering the Voice of the Natural World," my current book on
listening and recording natural sounds. He will be featured, again,
in my upcoming book on the connection between natural sound and human
music. After all, it was the animals who taught us to dance and sing.
Schafer embodies that more than anyone.
Bernie Krause
>Dan and Monty,
>
>Thank you for responding to my initial posting. In retrospect I wish
>that I had added a couple of background comments explaining my
>enthusiasm in locating "The Naturerecordists Yahoo Group." It
>occurred just a few weeks after becoming aware of the Bio/Eco
>Acoustical
>movements. I was more than excited to learn of the well developed
>research and philosophy of Dr. Murray Schafer et. al., but then to
>realize that sound hobbyists are actually out in the wilds
>electronically preserving sonic phenomena truly peaked my interest.
>Certainly I am aware of nature recordings and even have several in my
>CD collection. Yet somehow I've always thought of this as a
>commercial
>venture as opposed to a recreational activity that even I can become
>involved. Factor in my love of sound and perhaps you'll understand
>how
>excited I became to find this group.
>
>Dan, your profession as a sound engineer coupled with your
>recreational
>sound recording activities strikes me as an ideal marriage. I'd be
>willing to wager a bet that your sonic captures are heavenly! And
>Monty, your kind offer is such a gracious welcome to this Yahoo
>Group.
>I accept!!!!! There soon will be a message in your e-mail box from
>me.
>
>I'm curious how both of you - as well as any others reading this post
>-
>first learned of nature recording and what motivated you to
>become involved. The concept is so new to me that anything you share
>will be interesting.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Scott=20=20=20=20
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
--
Wild Sanctuary
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
t. 707-996-6677
f. 707-996-0280
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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