May 3, 8pm In Your Ear Actors, poets, musicians and DJs bring a not-to-be forgotten evening of performances that range from the serious to the hilarious. Hosted by Anna Friz with performances of "Sprawl" by Threshold Theater, "the Bat" by Impatient Theatre Co., "Tell" by Soraya Peerbaye (Theatre Direct) and special appearances by Paul Dutton, John Oswald, Sook Yin Lee, E.C. Woodley, Christine Duncan and many more to be announced, so stay tuned (on the web, in the underground or over the airwaves). In Your Ear will be recorded for later broadcast for CBC radio and will also be broadcast live-to-air from the Drake on CKLN 88.1-FM. May 3 to 28, various times
The AMBiENT PiNG and Deep Wireless collaborate for the fifth year in a row to offer Ambient and experimental artists the challenge of creating work that uses radio as a starting point or source material for sound exploration. This year's edition begins with Indian percussionist and sound artist Debashis Sinha with world musician Ben Grossman in a set that uses the radio as a sound source and mixed with various percussion instruments to create ambient music. Also, Deep Wireless artist in residence Kathy Kennedy will perform a solo set of electroacoustic vocal compositions.
Power Up Kathy Kennedy will apply her skills in sonic choreography and public guerilla sound art to the Toronto urban soundscape with transmission arts performances in parks, street corners, and other sites of dense concentration of Torontonians. May 13, 8 PM
Red Bird The piece uses four classes of sounds, (1) Birds, (2) Animal and Body sounds, (3) Machines and (4) Words (particularly the phrases, Listen to Reason” and “Reasonable”) , chosen for both their sonic qualities and their potential symbolism. These are ‘orchestrated’ and transformed into one another to create a piece which is both music and mythic drama in sound, exploring notions of political freedom, industrialisation and out relation to the natural environment. The idea of creating such a myth-structure was suggested by reading Levi Strauss’ ‘The Raw and the Cooked’, which makes structural analyses of many existing myth stories, pointing to their abstract structural qualities, and drawing direct parallels with musical structure. Movements 2 and 4 are derived exclusively from the voice of the subject. Two Women was commissioned by the DAAD, and received its first performance in the 50th Anniversary of Musique Concrete concert at the Parochialkirke in Berlin in September, 1998, using the diffusion system of the Berlin Technical University. 1. Siren Margaret Thatcher (quoting St Francis of Assisi) “Where there is discord, may we bring harmony” 2. Facets Princess Diana (talking about press photographers) 3. Stentor Ian Paisley (on Margaret Thatcher) “O God, defeat all our enemies … we hand this woman, Margaret Thatcher, over to the devil, that she might learn not to blaspheme. And O God in wrath, take vengeance upon this wicked, treacherous, lying woman … Take vengeance upon her O Lord!” 4. Angelus Princess Diana “It was a fairy story .. that everyone wanted to work…It’s been worthwhile, yes it has” “They were expected to be perfect…There were 60 to 90 photographers” “I want to be the queen of peoples hearts." THE DIVISION OF LABOUR with the voice of Alex Gordon “A workman not educated to the business could scarce make one pin a day. Adam Smith : The Wealth of Nations
Statement
RADiO iN AMBiENCE 2 @ AMBiENT PiNG The Ambient Ping and Deep Wireless collaborate to present NOINO, a newly formed group featuring highly regarded AMBiENT PiNG regulars James Bailey, Matthew Poulakakis & Jamie Todd. May 21, 1 PM Power Up Kathy Kennedy will apply her skills in sonic choreography and public guerilla sound art to the Toronto urban soundscape with transmission arts performances in parks, street corners, and other sites of dense concentration of Torontonians. Tuesday May 23, 9 PM
Notes From the Underground Drake’s variety night brings you experimental music, comedy, performance and video art! This month, Gareth Long curates “What’s Up With Yale?” : videos by the crème de la crème of Yale’s art program. Featuring video works by Sarah Dorner, JJ PEET, Derek Larson, Chris Moukarbel, Samantha Moyer and more. Long is currently pursuing his MFA at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut after receiving his Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in 2003. He is the recipient of the Vtape Emerging Artist Award, 2003 and is represented by Leo Kamen Gallery in Toronto. The Drake TV Video Vault features hilarious selections from our video library. This month: “Lennon + Dylan get tree top high (on video)” and “Yorkville Isn’t Gentrified”. As part of the Deep Wireless Residency, Drake A.I.Rs Kathy Kennedy, John Oswald and Trevor Wishart will perform sonic selections! Radio Theatre 1 & 2 followed by solo performances Radio Theatre is a Deep Wireless creation whereby an eclectic group of multi-talented radio artists are assembled together in order to perform live radiophonic pieces for the stage. This year's ensemble consisting of sound artists Anna Friz and Richard Windeyer, sound designer & actor Richard Lee, and vocalist Christine Duncan will perform a two-part (one part on each night) radio work by US radio and performance artist Gregory Whitehead. Also included will be radio works commissioned for CBC radio's Outfront by Christian Nicolay, Micheline Roi, Debashis Sinha, and Damiano Pietropaulo. The Radio theatre will be followed by shows that feature a solo voice performance by Kathy Kennedy on May 26 and San Francisco plunderphonic pioneers The Evolution Control Committee on May 27. Sonic Choreographies Sonic Choreographies are multi-track pieces for 5.1 surround sound composed almost entirely of the composer's voice, creating an immersive and deeply personal environment. Kennedy will also improvise live over some of the soundscapes. From lilting melodies to haunting auralities, the concert hall is transformed into a space within the human voice.
The Kitchen of the Future The ECC brings from San Francisco a newly revised version of their classic Thimbletron performances featuring normal kitchen appliances (toaster, blender, microwave, etc.) that are circuit-bent to change and twist your popular media appetite. May 28, 6 PM For this live-to-air closing night show, John Oswald and Mark Gunderson will bring together a "band" of Toronto celebrities from all walks of life (politics, food, literature, music, you name it..) to take audience requests for their musical favourites and throw these into a sound mix rich in discussion and debate. |
Radio without electricity! Well, almost. About once every second day the Drake Hotel will unexpectedly turn off the music in the restaurant, cafe or other locations and transform itself into an Avant Garde Irish Pub with singers, acoustic musicians, and battery powered radio artists curated and directed by John Oswald. Hang around the Drake and re-live the unexpected perks of the 2003 blackout! 
RADiO iN AMBiENCE 1 @ AMBiENT PiNG
May 13, 7 PM
May 16, 8 PM
May 27, 2006