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What Is Sound Art? And Why?

Tom Service considers the rise of sound art, often found in art galleries today. Is it a new genre or simply music in an art space? Sound artist Mark Fell provides expert advice.

Tom Service considers the rise of Sound Art, commonly found in art galleries today, and wonders whether it is a new genre or simply music in an art space? He consults musician and sound artist Mark Fell, finds precedents in Wagner's operas, considers how a 16th-century choral work became a contemporary art installation, and celebrates the American performance artist Laurie Anderson who accidentally had a pop hit with her piece O Superman.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Mar 2021 16:30
BBC Radio 3

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Ranked Amateurs

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Sound of the Underground

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Music Played

  • Mark Fell

    Protomusic #1

    Performer: Mark Fell.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium for 40 voices

    Conductor: Peter Phillips. Performer: Tallis Scholars.
    • Gimell.
    • CDGIM203.

  • Laurie Anderson

    O Superman for voice and ensemble

    Performer: Laurie Anderson.
    • Nonesuch.
    • Nonesuch 7559-79988.

  • Brian Eno

    Music for Airports

    • VIRGIN.
    • EEGCD-17.

  • Bruce Nauman

    Raw Materials

    Performer: Bruce Nauman.

  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal - opera in 3 acts

    Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Teldec.
    • 9031744482.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Concerto no. 21 in C major K.467 for piano and orchestra

    Performer: Philharmonic S O of London. Performer: Christoph Eschenbach.
    • EMI.
    • 3877932.

  • Morton Feldman

    String quartet II

    Performer: FLUX Quartet.
    • MODE.
    • mode-112.

  • Björk

    Hunter

    Singer: Björk.
    • One Little Indian.
    • TPLP-71CD.

  • Beyoncé

    Pray You Catch Me

    • Unknown.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 May 2019 17:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 10 May 2019 16:30
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sun 28 Feb 2021 17:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 5 Mar 2021 16:30
    BBC Radio 3

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