BRIDGE MUSIC
Autor: Prof. Ricardo Levi | Publicado: 2008-05-23T00:28:00-03:00

Hear the first music composed for BridgeJoseph Bertolozzi's Bridge Music is a series of public concerts featuring Bertolozzi’s original music performed live on a suspension bridge using the bridge itself as the instrument. Slated for 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic first voyage, Bertolozzi will play the Mid-Hudson Bridge which spans the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, integrally incorporating one of New York’s landmarks while using the river and mountains themselves as his theater.The railings, spindles, fences, trusses, suspension cables, and in fact every part of the bridge except the roadway (which will be left open to traffic) will sing and pulse as Bertolozzi's vibrant, site-specific compositions expand the boundaries of known music-making.I. The MusicAs an analogy, the bridge represents an ensemble including xylophones, chimes &amp; bells (vehicular guard-rails, handrails, panels, and spindles), metallic drums (trusses, towers), rasps (fencing, grates), anvils (cable, girders), bass guitars and marimbas (suspenders) and deep, sustained organ-like tones (traffic light supports blown from actual pipe organ wind chests).Using contact microphones to minimize the outside noise that would be picked up by normal microphones [such as traffic, birds, etc], the intent is to use the sounds of the bridge as performed upon by twenty percussionists from a written score “as is,” as amplified from the source without further modification or tonal synthesis, though some reverb effects, primarily the selection of a “room sound” to unify the disparate elements, would be introduced judiciously.Also, a separate set featuring electronically processed bridge sounds may be composed to illustrate what an “electric bridge” can sound like, but it would still be performed live. The entire suite will end with an original song setting performed by a Native American singer standing atop one of the towers facing west towards the rest of America, creating another new genre, that is, solo voice with bridge accompaniment.There will be multiple performances in September, 2009 in conjunction with the Hudson River Arts Festival. The performances will comprise a 45-60 minute suite of exhilarating and beautiful music. It will reflect the spirit of human achievement with a modern sensibility, attaining the highest artistic standards while remembering that it is music for a civic celebration.II. The AudienceA. Locally the live performances will be experienced in the form of audio and video feeds to parks on both sides of the river. This will include large screens from which the audience can view the musicians, with panoramic and close-up views of the bridge itself.B. The concert would also be available as a live radio/web/cable/TV simulcast transmitting the event around the globe. C. The performances may be edited into a program for follow-on broadcast and retail activity. III. The SiteThe attributes of the site includeA. A beautiful bridge of human rather than superhuman scale in a majestic natural setting. B. Accessible public parks on both sides of the river near major roads and mass transport systems. C. A bridge with walkways upon which the musicians can be safely positioned. FINAL NOTEThe bridge’s designer, Ralph Modjeski, was a highly skilled pianist (he was a classmate of the famous Polish virtuoso Paderewski). He ultimately chose engineering as his profession and became one of the 20th century’s greatest bridge designers. Both as a pioneering engineer and a musician who loved the music of his own time, he would be intrigued to experience this boundary-shattering synthesis involving his beloved bridge and the music of our time.Photo: © 2006, Spencer Ainsley for The Poughkeepsie JournalBRIDGE MUSICTitle: Bridge Funk (From "Bridge Music")Year Composed: 2006Duration: 00:02:16Ensemble Type: Unspecified Instrument(s): EnsembleInstrumentation Notes The Mid Hudson Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie NY, rigged with contact microphones.This is not an electronically enhanced recording. All sounds were sampled from the Mid Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, NY and used directly in this demo to pitch my project BRIDGE MUSIC to The New York State Bridge Authority. Upon hearing the demo, NYSBA granted permission to pursue the project and it is currently in development for 2009. I intend to compose a 45-60 minute suite to be played live with twenty percussionists.Using the same contact mics used in the sampling process heard on this recording, the music will be fed to speakers on the shores of both sides of the Hudson River, with a simulcast on radio, cable, web, and tv. http://josephbertolozzi.com/bridge.htmlclick here to support