Living Tones and Musical Objects: A Sonic Celebration (1 July 2023)

In a day-long residency, featuring United States Artist Fellow Jin Hi Kim and dancer, choreographer, scholar and educator Hari Krishnan, the Vocal Constructivists coordinated workshops and performances of works by Scratch Orchestra founder Michael Parsons, the inimitable Linn D., voice expert and poet Barbara Alden, visual artist/musician Alison Cross, the mercurial composer Kurt Schwertzik, Fluxus artist and poet Nye Ffarrabas, movement transcriber Simone Forti, the vivacious balletic composer Constant Lambert, Deep Listening proponent Pauline Oliveros, her Swiss collaborator Margrit Schenker, and electronic pioneers Otto Luening and Vladimir Ussachevsky.

A crucial aspect of experimental music is the cultivation of sensory awareness to the broader sonic environment. These practices underpin over a decade of Vocal Constructivist performances. New in 2023 was the idea of hosting related events, such as participatory workshops, designed to engage a broader public in creative listening practices. The special celebration took place in a part of London known for its cultural richness, artistic history, ferruginous waters, clean(er) air, and proximity to the tranquil environment of Hampstead Heath.