Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 candidate

sound 2014The art of sound, by contrast to music,which is a consecutive distributionof sound in time, is an ‘architectonic’intervention in the environment. Thisproject offers a guide in today’s urbanjungle of the world of sounds, thinkingof new forms and manifestations of theinteraction between sound, architectureand space, vitalizing and enliveningforgotten spaces in innovative anduntraditional ways.Modern technologies help the art of sounderupt. At the core it is placement, the musicalizationand execution of the environment.Creating a composition for citychimes, for example. Trees and buildingscan be equipped with sound effects. Youcan play around with urban sounds. Justas well autonomous sculptural pieces canbe created in open space. Sound and lightshows have become very popular.It is also possible to get to know the inaudibleurban sounds by unarmed ear. It canbe done with a specific technique. For example,the sounds of an electromagneticfield or of an empty room – creating a compositionout of them. There are performerswho operate with inaudible sounds onle.The German artist Christina Kubisch orDanish artist Jacob Kirkegaard work withvery sensitive microphones to record thesounds of the northern lights, of ice andof the abandoned zone at Chernobyl. Therecorded material can be turned into beautifulcompositions.The art of sound can be created in specialspaces, creating performances particularlyfor that space. For example, inchurches, castle ruins, in shops or at thetrain station. A sound ’architecture’ can becreated, changing the sense of the space.It is possible to interactively play with thefrequencies of sound. For example, usingthe Geiger counter, which measures humanradiation and converts it into a sound(Finnish performers Tommi Gronlund andPeteri Nisunen).Within this project there will be a soundart exhibition where single objects will becreated especially for and inspired by aselected space. The concept of force majeuremanifests as the impossibility to escapeand dissociate oneself, as the urge toexpress the current and to reflect on reality– to be present. The nature of the art ofsound can accomplish that as perfectly asit can co-operate with the existing environmentand create a new one.Within the project the art of sound will bepresent in the city environment, using andintensifying the existing elements of thatenvironment. At the same time the artworksof sound will be created for specialspaces. The performances of the soundartwork or innovative music along with newmusic concerts (dancing and listening music)will show that the boundary betweenmusic and art of sound is a mere convention.The art of sound will become moreaccessible to more people.What: Sound art exhibition.Where: Urban environment and unconventionalexhibition spaces.When: September.Concept authors and organisers: Skaņumežs – Viestarts Gailītis, Zane Dātava,Ernests Ansons, Renāte Auziņa,www.skanumezs.lvCooperation partners: NUMUSICfestival (Stavanger, Norway),Transmediale Festival (Berlin,Germany), ZKM (Karlsruhe, Germany),SpongeArteContemporanea (Italy),Jauna Muzika (Lithuania), and others.sacred musicfrom sunset to sunriseEveryone has experienced a momentof clear night without any cloud in thesky or any wind blowing. Suddenly theskyline dissolves and you cannot tellwhich of the stars are just reflectionsin the ocean and which ones shine inthe sky. The ocean starts to breathein time with the universe on the nightof the sacred music concert in DomeCathedral, in the Dome Garden andDome Square.The Dome Cathedral complex can providean exclusive concert, which can be enjoyedfrom three different perspectives. Inthe Dome Cathedral there is a concert forthose who want to experience the acousticarches of the Cathedral. There will bea specially designed zone in the DomeGarden where the concert will be broadcaston big screens and good acousticsare guaranteed. Original special effectswill be created by the lighting design. InDome Square, the atmosphere will bemore open/democratic. In the city environmentthe concert can be enjoyed by freelymoving about, choosing specific compositionsor certain performers in the concert.The musical heritage of Western Europeis as boundless as an ocean. The programmeof the concert will be structured inthe form of an archway rondo - internationallywell known large-scale compositionsare combined with original pieces and organsolos.At midnight Rachmaninoff’s Vigilia will beperformed. The programme may includeBruckner’s, Kodai’s or Mendelssohn’sTe Deum, and the Urtrehtas Te Deum ofHandel. There are plans to commission awork by Pēteris Vasks as well as to inviteGidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica andinternationally known solo artists fromLatvia and abroad.What: Concert.Where: Riga Dome Cathedral, Garden andDome Square.When: AugustConcept authors: Māris Ošlejs, State Choir“Latvija”.Cooperation partners: The Dome Cathedral,composers, Latvian and European soloists.42 43