Third Draft 24 April 2008

LISTENING RETREAT

Bellever, Dartmoor 15-18 May 2008

Quiet. Under sun and moon  New voices?  The voice of the earth in the songs of birds and the calls of bats?  The voice of the earth in river rolled stones and crackling leaves?  A chance to listen, to open ears and let the sounds in, as they are, as themselves.  How do the sounds make you feel?  What memories, what associations, with this place, with other places, with other times.  What do you imagine?  What do you hear?

Day One Thursday 15 May

Our first day starts at 3pm, so participants will have time to arrive and settle in to the youth hostel beforehand.  Initially we will introduce ourselves, take time to share our different arts practices and discuss ways in which increased knowledge of the sonic environment and of the development of sound in art will enhance our work.  We will also cover basic housekeeping and, of course, health and safety especially while out on the moor.  Later in the evening, after dinner, we'll do a dusk soundwalk up towards Bellever Tor.

Day Two Friday 16 May

A large part of day two will be devoted to developing listening skills out on the moor.  We'll be sharing various techniques derived from composers and sound artists such as R Murray Shafer and Pauline Oliveros and from innovative environmental educationalists such as Joseph Cornell.  We'll also spend time learning how to be quiet and how to track sounds, especially those of wild animals and we will learn how to identify creatures from their voices, especially birds.  During the day we will also spend time individually, simply sitting and observing the soundscape.  Throughout we will discuss as a group our impressions of the local  soundscape, and of ways in which we can respond creatively to this in order to prepare for day three.

Day Three Saturday 17 May

Day three starts early with sunrise and a dawn chorus soundwalk.  The rest of the day will then be free to work on their own creative responses to the local sonic environment.   For this you will be able to make use of the extensive digital technology available from Aune Head Arts and, naturally, the course leaders will be on hand throughout to guide you in the use of the equipment and in your work.  We will meet together throughout the day to discuss progress and, later, discuss how the works can be shown/performed.  Later on for those that wish, we'll take a stroll out on the moor to watch the sun set. 

Day Four Sunday 18 May

The final day is given over to finishing off work and to display/performance. We will also discuss how what has been learned/experienced over the course might be integrated into personal practices.