music by Enid Luff and Julia Usher

SCULPTED SOUND

Julia and Enid have both collaborated extensively with the multi-media artist Derek Shiel. One of these projects was Taro Arian/Struck in Silver, given at the Machynlleth Festival in August 2004 (see under Performances).

Sculpted Sound are a quartet of musicians performing on sound sculptures created by Derek Shiel either to be used as percussion instruments, or to be exhibited as a sculptural ensemble. When exhibited they require an environment spacious enough for their formal effect to be fully appreciated; when heard as instruments they provoke a more immediate response, intriguing the listener by their wide variety of sounds and striking appearance.

So far music has been composed for the sculptures by a number of international composers and they have been shown in solo and mixed exhibitions in Britain and abroad. Compositions have been broadcast on radio and television and the sculptures used in theatre, dance and puppet performances and children’s workshops.

Sculpted Sound was featured at a concert in Guildford Cathedral in March 2007, during the Guildford International Music Festival. The programme included music specially composed for them by Robert Carrington, Sonja Grossner, Brian Inglis, and Tazul Tajuddin. They were joined in performance by the mezzo-soprano Gina Fergione, baritone Richard Lea, and children of local schools. As the performance was in the round, the audience was able to view the instruments from all sides.

Percussionists with Sculpted Sound include: Nicky Heinen (also flautist), Trevor Taylor, Roberto Filoseta, Jobie Burgess, Stephen Gibson, Brian Inglis, Tazuul Tajuddin, Theodor Lotis, Brian Wilshere, Yumi Hara-Cawkwell.

Sculpted Sound is indebted to PRSF for funding for our performance at the Machynlleth Festival on 28 August, 2004. The concert presented world premieres of compositions by the distinguished Welsh composer, Enid Luff, set to texts in Welsh and English, including poems by Gillian Clarke, spoken by Dewi Savage (see more under Performances).

Derek Shiel’s Sound Sculptures are works of art in their own right. Here

they are shown set out as an exhibition.

The Sound Sculptures used in performance, with choreography

to specially commissioned music.

A close up view of the found objects, chosen for their visual qualities as well as their sound, which make up the Sound Sculptures. Each has its own particular pitch and ring, and can be played with a wide range of percussion beaters.

Primavera, 11 Langham Place, Highwoods

Colchester, CO4 9GB Tel (01206) 751522

enidluff@googlemail.com