Lost and Found Sound Assembly (April-2013)
The first performance of the Lost and Found Sound Assembly took place on Saturday in Ringsend Bring Centre, Pidgeon House Road, Dublin 4, to an invited audience. Students from St. Mary's have been working on assembling a musical instrument with US composer George Higgs, and played a piece specially composed for this project. The work was performed on a music structure or "Higgstrument" made from materials sourced from council recycling centres. Percussionist Sean Carpio also performs with the students, and the work is funded by Dublin City council under its Public Art Programme.
The materials used in the structure include steel pipes and tubes, bike wheels, copper and waving pipes, kitchen tins, discarded wood and drums made out of steel boilers.
"I've always been interested in finding and making music in places where you wouldn't normally expect to find it. My idea to use recyclable materials came from that. Working with the students from St. Mary's also shows that music isn't just about sound and heating. To make music together you use gestures, sign language, vibrations, eye signals as well. Working with them on this project was a wonderful experience and we're looking forward to sharing the results with the public" says George Higgs.
George Higgs is a composer whose work includes opera, symphony, compositions for small ensembles, music for experimental theatre, works for installation and a number if HIGGSTRUMENTS which he has designed for the performance of certain compositions. His music has been performed across Ireland, in Russia and the United States.
He has received numerous awards and honours including a grant from the Wellcome Trust, the Director's Prize form the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, numerous Arts Council awards and a MacDowell Fellowship. He holds a Masters Degree in Music Technology from Trinity College, Dublin, and is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland.
The Lost and Found Assembly will also stage performances of the work at Barnardo's square (Dame St.) on Saturday 16th March, and Wolfe Tone Square on Saturday 23rd March, both starting at 12 noon.
Thanks to Dublin City Council for the Ringsend performance photographs.
