Part One: Installation
A 100-year-old beech tree on Durdham Down is hosting an extraordinary sonic installation. Bristol Ensemble, Bristol’s professional orchestra, has created TreeSong, a unique project created to capture the movements of a mature tree and translate them into sound. Every movement of and within the tree – from wind, birds, squirrels, branches and leaves – is picked up by an array of sensors and translated into musical sounds. International artist Jony Easterby has created the installation beneath and inside the tree's canopy powered by the sun's energy thanks to a POSSIM™ eco-generator. The “song” that is captured will then be translated by composer William Goodchild into a 15-minute orchestral work for concert performance. This will be premiered at St George’s Bristol on Sunday 29 November 2015. TreeSong is one of the projects to be awarded funding by Bristol City Council for the city’s year as European Green Capital.
Project manager, Audrey Michel, said: “TreeSong is all about noticing urban nature and experiencing it in a unique way. We are excited to have the opportunity to ‘give voice’ to a tree. Weather, wildlife, nature will all play their part, but one thing is for sure: Bristol will never have seen or heard anything like this before. We hope people from all across the city will come and experience it.”
TreeSong installation is open to the public daily from October 1 to 4 2015, 10am to 10pm. Entry is free. The tree is situated near the junction of Stoke Road and Saville Road on Bristol's Durdham Downs.
Part Two: Concert
The TreeSong concert takes place at St George's Bristol on Sunday 29 November 2015.
Music composed by William Goodchild
Sound design by Kathy Hinde
Bristol Ensemble
TreeSong www.treesong.org.uk
