JKT UK QC Preflight Point F The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design another in the ava series Tony Gibbs Other titles of interest in AVA’s Academia range include: The Fundamentals of Creative Design The Fundamentals of Photography The Fundamentals of Illustration The Fundamentals of Animation The Fundamentals of Fashion Design The Fundamentals of Creative Advertising The Fundamentals of Architecture The Fundamentals of Interior Architecture The Fundamentals of Digital Art The Fundamentals of Typography The Fundamentals of Film Making The Fundamentals of Marketing The Fundamentals of Product Design ava publishing sa sales@avabooks.ch www.avabooks.ch Tony is presently leader of the BA Sonic Arts programme at Middlesex University.Launched in 1995, this unique programme is one of the first interdisciplinary degree courses in sonic arts. In addition to programme leadership and teaching, he has been responsible for the development of the technical resources of the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts, where he is currently involved in a range of activities including the development of an interactive 3D audiovisual system for use by composers, performers and other artists. A fan of Maurice Escher, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Steely Dan and William Gibson, Tony rides a bicycle, is married to a headteacher, has two daughters and a variable number of cats and lives in deepest rural Hertfordshire. The application of sound to other media (such as film or video) is well known – we call it sound design – and the idea of sound as a medium in its own right (such as radio) is widely accepted. However, the idea that sound could also be a distinct art form by itself is less well established and often misunderstood. The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design sets out to introduce, describe and begin the process of defining this new subject and to provide a starting point for anyone who has an interest in the creative uses of sound. In this book we explore the worlds of sonic art and sound design through their history and development as distinct subjects.We look at the present state of these extraordinarily diverse genres through the works and words of established artists and through an examination of the wide range of practices that currently come under the heading of ‘sonic arts’. We examine the technologies used and the impact that these have on works of sonic art; consider new and radical approaches to sound recording, performance, installation works and exhibition and visit the worlds of the sonic artist and the sound designer. Any new subject can be difficult to approach so, as well as showing newcomers the scope and possibilities that sonic art can offer, this book helps provide useful resources for further study and practice. The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design Tony Gibbs Job no : 76098-2 Title : The Fundamentals Of Sonic Art & Sound Design Client : AVA Scn : # 175 Size : 588.5(w)230(h)mm Co : M3 C0 (Coagl) Dept : DTP D/O : 14.02.07 (Job no: 76098C2 D/O : 13.03.07 Co: CM3) 2 nd 33 76098-2_CTP_sonic_UK_US_cvr.qxd 3/24/07 5:21 AM Page 1 QC Preflight Point 1 st 1111 p1 Job no : 76098 Title : The Fundamentals Of Sonic Art Client : AVA Scn : # 150 Size : 200(w)230(h)mm Co : M11 C0 (All To Spot)(Coagl) Dept : DTP D/O : 16.02.07 (Job no:000000 D/O : 00.00.07 Co: CM0) 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 QC Preflight Point 1 st 1111 p2 Job no : 76098 Title : The Fundamentals Of Sonic Art Client : AVA Scn : # 150 Size : 200(w)230(h)mm Co : M11 C0 (All To Spot)(Coagl) Dept : DTP D/O : 16.02.07 (Job no:000000 D/O : 00.00.07 Co: CM0) 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 2 1 st p2 An AVA Book Published by AVA Publishing SA Rue des Fontenailles 16 Case Postale 1000 Lausanne 6 Switzerland Tel: +41 786 005 109 Email: enquiries@avabooks.ch Distributed by Thames & Hudson (ex-North America) 181a High Holborn London WC1V 7QX United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7845 5000 Fax: +44 20 7845 5055 Email: sales@thameshudson.co.uk www.thamesandhudson.com Distributed in the USA & Canada by: Watson-Guptill Publications 770 Broadway New York, New York 10003 USA Fax: +1-646-654-5487 Email: info@watsonguptill.com www.watsonguptill.com English Language Support Office AVA Publishing (UK) Ltd. Tel: +44 1903 204 455 Email: enquiries@avabooks.co.uk Copyright © AVA Publishing SA 2007 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the copyright holder. ISBN 2-940373-49-3 and 978-2-940373-49-9 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Design by Karen Wilks Production by AVA Book Production Pte. Ltd., Singapore Tel: +65 6334 8173 Fax: +65 6259 9830 Email: production@avabooks.com.sg All reasonable attempts have been made to trace, clear and credit the copyright holders of the images reproduced in this book. However, if any credits have been inadvertently omitted, the publisher will endeavour to incorporate amendments in future editions. 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 2 QC Preflight Point 1 st 1111 p3 Job no : 76098 Title : The Fundamentals Of Sonic Art Client : AVA Scn : # 150 Size : 200(w)230(h)mm Co : M11 C0 (All To Spot)(Coagl) Dept : DTP D/O : 16.02.07 (Job no:000000 D/O : 00.00.07 Co: CM0) 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 3 1 st p3 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 3 1 st p3 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 3 1 st p3 The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design Tony Gibbs 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 3 21 p4 Job no : 76098 Title : The Fundamentals Of Sonic Art Client : AVA Scn : # 150 Size : 200(w)230(h)mm Co : M11 C0 (All To Spot)(Coagl) Dept : DTP D/O : 16.02.07 (Job no:76098C1 D/O : 09.03.07 Co: CM11) QC Preflight Point 2 nd 00 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 4 p4 (Job no:76098C1 D/O : 09.03.07 Co: CM11) 2 nd 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 4 p4 (Job no:76098C1 D/O : 09.03.07 Co: CM11) 2 nd 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 4 p4 (Job no:76098C1 D/O : 09.03.07 Co: CM11) 2 nd How to get the most out of this book 06 Introduction 08 Origins and Developments 12 Timeline 14 A Historical Perspective 20 A New Form Emerges 30 Sound Design Appears 36 Artists and their Work 40 Art or Music? 42 Vicki Bennett 44 Max Eastley 48 Janek Schaefer 54 Simon Emmerson 62 Knut Aufermann 66 Contents 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:32 AM Page 4 . 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd 3/24/07 5:31 AM Page 1 1 st p1 The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design 76098_CTP_001-011.qxd. have on works of sonic art; consider new and radical approaches to sound recording, performance, installation works and exhibition and visit the worlds of the sonic artist and the sound designer. Any. newcomers the scope and possibilities that sonic art can offer, this book helps provide useful resources for further study and practice. The Fundamentals of Sonic Art & Sound Design Tony Gibbs Job no