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One Thousand Birds (2019) album release by GRICE inspired by a sculptural installation by artist Helen Morse Palmer exhibited in 2002. Elements of the work feature on the cover-art for the album. This sculptural installation consists of 1000 folded paper cranes which are inspired by the Japanese belief that cranes can live for 1000 years and the tradition of folding paper cranes can lead to the granting of a wish for recovery from illness or injury. This is related to the tragic story of 2 year old Sadako Sasaki who was a victim of the Hiroshima bombing who bravely folded paper cranes whilst she was in hospital suffering the effects. Cranes are a symbol of peace. 2025 is the 80th year anniversary of the atomic bomb The track 'morning glory' includes archive field recordings of the divine choral majesty of a thousand birds in song captured in the shire by Grice and features sonic innovator Richard Barbieri (Japan/Porcupine Tree).
Neon Forest (La Foresta Assete)
Neon Forest was part of the One Thousand Birds recording sessions. It is a continuation of the sounds and sonic processes developed on 'La Forest Assente' and 'The Electrician' layers of sounds manipulated, treated and placed like sonic mosaic to form a wide sonic spectral image.
Richard Barbieri also features in the forest populating the virtual trees with his unique sonic bird sounds (created on the System 700 and soft synths). A return to specific synth programming.
A collection of compositions and bird symphonies collated between March and December 2020. Constructed around field recordings of individual birdsong and exquisite choruses made from dawn 'til dusk in deepest darkest Devon and inter-laced with thematic melodies and arrangements from the 'One Thousand Birds' album (2019). The album was recorded at a time of disintegration and derailment where human activity was for the most part suspended leaving a deafening silence, a sacred space filled with intricate birdsong and the exquisite voices of a thousand feathered choristers. "The philosophy of birds - their Iridescence, endurance, vulnerability and strength and their musical integrity is something to behold. They have much to tell us. This music is dedicated to the birds, the true masters in the art of life (and flying) These are my letters from isolation and this my tribute to the birds. Their majesty saved me from myself and I owe them much. May there always be birdsong above the battlefields." G
one thousand birds symphony (Background)
one thousand birds symphony (RAMM immersive installation/performance Video)
NOTE FROM THE ARTIST
The deep sonic exploration of birdsong posed a real challenge on many levels in terms of time signatures, textures and frequencies of sounds. The process of recording the album involved experimentation with down sampling individual birdsong and the mimicking of bird sounds using different percussive and melodic instruments - this led to some alternative and lateral ways of manipulating and treating the sounds and to the creation of new sounds using Ableton Live, virtual instruments and software alongside more traditional instruments and harmonics. This is the first outing and exploration of the live performance and surround playback of the work.
The aspiration now is to record additional material in the field with ambisonic mics and mix the work in Dolby Atmos to add yet another dimension and to translate the score for a full orchestra and present the work as fully immersive/interactive experience. G