AV Festival presents: Sound Strata of Coastal Northumberland

Sound Strata of Coastal Northumberland is a multi-channel sound installation based on a cross-section diagram of coastal geological formations from the River Tyne to the Scottish border, drawn by local mining engineer Nicholas Wood in 1838. Using the diagram as a graphic score, Stenger transforms the geologic into the sonic in a 59-minute work that travels from the coal seams of Tyneside to the porphyritic rocks north of the Tweed, layering instrumental sounds, melodic patterns and signature rhythms from traditional Northumbrian music and dance. Responding to history, culture and place names as well as the drawing’s structures, she combines surface detail of fiddle and Northumbrian pipe patterns with brass band harmonies, voice, Border and Highland pipes to create a unique portrait of place. The exhibition is presented in the Workshop Gallery and features the 12.5-metre strata diagram that Wood drew to illustrate the location of coal measures on the Northumberland Coast. In addition, the exhibition also includes an archive display of Wood’s other geological work in relation to the coal measures of Northumberland. A fully illustrated publication including an essay by nature writer Robert Macfarlane and a CD stereo mix of the installation is available from Woodhorn and online for the special exhibition price of £15 and £20 thereafter. Sound Strata of Coastal Northumberland was commissioned by AV Festival in 2014. Throughout 2015 AV Festival is touring the work in Northumberland to Berwick-upon-Tweed, Woodhorn Museum and Holy Island. www.avfestival.co.uk For more information about the tour and to join the AV Festival’s mailing list visit www.soundstrata.co.uk
Admission
Parking charge of £3.50 applies

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk//ne000064?id=EVENT518698