Remote Access: River Works

Description:

River Works was the first concert of the Remote Access concert series. In conjunction with BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day, an outdoor concert was held on the bank of Lower Lynn Creek in North Vancouver and featured three performances and a sonic installation. 

The concert began with John Korsrud’s trumpet and electroacoustic piece, Speck. Michael O’Neill’s bagpipe ensemble Mearingstone performed Luffness accompanied by two taiko drummers. The concert ended with Barry Truax’s Riverrun, an in situ composition with four-channels of harmonizing sounds of granular synthesized electronics with natural sounds of live running water.

Gordon Monahan’s installation, the Aquaeolian Harp, was on view. It harnessed the kinetic energy of water flowing over thirty-five metre-long piano strings anchored to the bottom of Lower Lynn Creek to create a soundscape of exquisite tones resonant to the landscape. The installation was on display September 29 and 30 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Western Front commissioned an essay by scholar and musician Ellen Waterman about the project and its relation to avant-garde music practice and ecological worldviews.

Presented with support from the Canadian Music Centre.

Curated by DB Boyko and Ben Wilson.

Video documentation available upon request.