Janet Cardiff - "Forty-Part Motet" (1 Viewer)

[Martin Rendall]

In a word, awesome!
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Cardiff's works on display in Montreal. Her work which stuck me the most, and is relevant to this forum, is her "Forty-Part Motet".
Basically, it's a large room with 40 B&W 303 speakers on stands, forming a circle, pointing inward. The speakers are grouped into 8 sets of 5, each representing a different choir. In most cases, each speaker represents a single voice. All the choirs are collaborating to sing "Spem in alium" by Thomas Tallis, a 16'th century work.
The listener is encouraged to walk around the area, either listening to individual voices, or taking in the work as a whole.
It was an incredible surround sound experience. We spend more than an hour in the room, just listening in awe!
I just need to get 35 more speakers...
If you ever get a chance to visit this work, I highly recommend it!
More info: http://www.abbeymedia.com/Janweb/40motet.html
Martin.

 

[GregClarke]

I experienced this last summer here at the National Gallery. Has to be heard to be believed - highly recommended.
Here is her latest, I'll be going soon and will post comments.
http://www.gallery.ca/cgi-bin/i4desi...ection=current
Greg

 

[Martin Rendall]

I walked past that new exhibit a few times, but never properly experienced it. The wife said it would drive me nuts, since "audience participation" is the sole reason I don't go to movie theaters.

Enjoy!

Martin.