Andrew Hugill/Philharmonia Orchestra:
Sound Exchange/Sound Ideas
The central element of the Sound Exchange is an enormous
online sample library, comprising as many notes, articulations and effects as
could be crammed into a series of recording sessions on on every single orchestral
instrument. The sample library can be accessed today at http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange/sound_samples/
In addition, the
SOUND IDEAS project, funded by 'connexions', ran throughout August 2002. The
idea was to create a collection of original and distinctive orchestral sounds
that were created by untutored ears. These would become the 'Philharmonia samples'.
Young people were invited to De Montfort University Studios to create an idea
for orchestra, which was then recorded by the Philharmonia at Air Studios, London,
on August 24th.
Postproduction and effects were applied later, at
De Montfort University Recording Studio. The resulting Sound Ideas are now available
for internet download from this page. These include all the original sounds
and some postproduced sounds. The mp3 versions are a good 'thumbnail' of each
idea, but the full sample should be downloaded in .wav (PC) or .aif (Mac) format
to get best quality.
There are also sound files from a preliminary session
with five Phiharmonia musicians, recorded at DMU studios on 14.08.02:
(Click Ideas to hear them in mp3 format)
Everyone plays the highest possible note on their instrument
and holds it for 10 secs. Ends with loud blast of sound.
(This was explained by the creator in person - he was
clearly happy!)
Remove few notes on vibraphone and marimba and hum a
C down pipes, then bend down to A. Bassoon and Horn play A, real quiet...crescendo.
Double bass - tap dance! loud clacky noises.
Horn and bassoon starting as low as possible, work their
way up as high as possible. Double bass, marimba starting as high as possible,
work their way down to as low as possible. Everyone together - lasting 10 seconds.
Bass trem sul pont. Bassoon 'slap tongues' repetitively
over the top Vibes roll High 'wailing' horn
Tam-tam. Play the frame for 5 seconds. Rhythm of your
choice.
Get the bassoon player to make the baby sound or the
2-person effect. Get the percussion to play the big cymbal- a roll, with the horn
playing notes to make an elephant sound
Double Bass and Bassoon play dark mysterious, quiet,
melancholy noise. Think of this scene while playing - London, early 1900s, dark
and foggy - Jack the Ripper-esque atmosphere. THINK GOTHIC!
Japanese Blue
Drums: Bass drum, long long short short. Toms 1234.
Bassoon (diagram shows slow climb up steps)
All instruments to do quick notes getting higher each
note!
Double bass one string (diagram indicates direction
of slide). Cowbell beats: 1,2,3.