Organisers of the UK premiere of Harmonic Fields, installed by artist Pierre Sauvageot, say over 8000 people visited the unusual musical installation in South Cumbria.
Staged for only three days, in June 2011, the event has attracted global media attention.
This is the first chance for UK audiences to see and hear Pierre Sauvageot’s critically-acclaimed installation which made its debut in France last year and will next head to New York in 2012 and Marseille in 2013.
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Powered by the wind, 500 hand-crafted Aeolian wind instruments provide an eerie, however spiritual accompaniment to the natural birdsong living on the limestone outcrops of Birkrigg Common, near the market town of Ulverston.
Harmonic cellos, vibrating drums, bamboo whistles and flute trees were installed by artist Pierre Sauvageot and his company Lieux Publics.
Pierre Sauvageot said: “Cumbria has been a wonderful place to bring Harmonic Fields, with beautiful views and plenty of wind to play our instruments. It has been fantastic that we’ve had such a large and enthusiastic audience. It has been a real pleasure watching the public walking around immersing themselves in the sounds of the instruments and the wind.”
The instruments are specially designed for the installation by plastic arts specialist Toni Casalonga. It takes five days to complete the installation.
Audience reaction to the event has been hugely positive and very enthusiastic.
Grasmere based blogger ‘Crag Chris’ described Harmonic Fields as an ‘audio visual treat… Sitting in the sunshine with a gentle wind blowing through the instruments it was easy to drift into an almost zen like state.’ She added that ‘The temptation to follow it round the World is very strong, it was that compelling!’
Lyn Summers from Lancaster described it as ‘A unique fusion between music and sculpture’. A visitor from Glasgow wrote: ‘Totally loved it. Very inspirational’.
The event is organised as part of a series of events by Lakes Alive.
Harmonic Fields can next be seen in Holland and then New York.
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