The Sound of Theatre
There is no shortage of books on audio technology covering topics as diverse as amateur sound effects (or those on a budget), digital technology, acoustics and live sound engineering. But Collison has produced one of a very few books looking at the history - and possibly the first history book to cover theatre sound specifically. The book commences with an apt quote from Throckmorton's 'Catalog of Theatre' (1937): "This board, you may say, is a tree, this muslin is a wall and that spotlight the tropical sunlight - and the public will imagine it. But a dog's bark must sound like a dog's bark, and a train like a train." This quote perhaps unwittingly gives an idea about Collison himself - modest and precise. While most aspects of theatre have scope for a little artistic licence, audio doesn't, as done well it should be very real and in some respects transparent - skills Collison was renowned for. A lot of research has evidently gone into this book: it begins with a fascinating insight into the emergence of theatre back in the 4th and 5th Centuries BC, and how Aristotle and Pythagoras set the scene for early acoustic work - Aristotle noting that sound waves do not travel in a straight line, as well as the emergence of primitive sound effects - particularly thunder, suitably for a civilisation that worshipped the Gods. The next significant developments begin in the renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries, a progression largely led by the Italians who resurrected and reprinted the famous architectural manual by Roman architect Vitruvius. This led them to build a new style of theatre which is the style we're accustomed with today, and of course were also pioneers of theatre sound effects to suit as well. The book progresses through Shakespearian theatre effects (many by musical instruments) as well as the emergence of other effects such as wind machines, crashes, horses, carriages and rain, inter alia. The next section takes the reader on a chronological tour of audio developments from 1820. As one can imagine these are plentiful, and as such each is treated necessarily briefly. The technological progress from hundreds of years of wooden instruments and mechanical effects to what we have now is astounding, and well worth reading as it charts the history of this profession. Collison goes on to chart the development of amplified audio in theatre right from the original Magnavox system through the Hollywood financed 'talkies'. A whole chapter is also dedicated to the British pioneers of theatre such as RG Jones, Jack Bishop, Stagesound, Watkins and WEM. The West End progression from acetate disc to tape and the growing use of microphones, processing and amplification essentially saw the emergence of the sound designer (of which many familiar names have been included) and much of the latter parts of this book chart the rise of this role along with the technology, such as the introduction of the radio mic and the mixing desk. In all it is a pleasant read and is peppered with anecdotes and personal ecollections of Collison himself, and if nothing else it is fascinating for those of us of more junior years to see how the technology itself, as well as some companies we take for granted, developed and came into being. Some things never change though, and those who started out in the time-honoured tradition of an unofficial apprenticeship will find a great deal of empathy with Collison's description of his early years. --LSI Online