Wield Sessions
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Sound Recordings in the High Tauern about 2000 metres above sea level, photographed and played live. Living with nature, not outside of it, now and for the creative future. Listening with nature and the nature in yourself.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
I wanted to play and record music in its purity, use sounds and rooms of nature and bring in my own creativity. Using echoes outside of a recording studio, hearing a waterfall not far and the wind and birds are giving their sound from time to time. As the nature was in that moment floating, bursting and sounding, so was I playing live loud and quiet, rough and soft.
A sound engineer (Marco Kavelar) and a photographer (Maria Harms) supported the project, so it is on compact disc and we can see beautiful pictures of it.
The Live-Recordings took place in the summer of 2018, after that we worked in the studio and released the album in late 2018. After that I wanted to play the songs live, in its rough- and easiness and open for change and improvisation, "naturally" you could say - supported by the pictures these live experiences I played untill 2020, and I still play some of the songs live, but the project closed in summer 2020.
Key objectives for sustainability
When you learn about belonging (in nature) and essentials (in music), there's no need for more. This was one of the project's views - on essential performance. Looking out and inside for being in this world and harvesting your own capabilities.
When we feel what is essentially important for us and the world we live in, we also see what's not. Maybe it gives an open minded view and contentment about that, this was one of my intentions - to see things and experiences just the way they are.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
We've been searching natural ground, where music and nature comes together, or as we thought, it gives a nice combination in natural arenas, caves and in between water streams.
This also influenced the lyrics, which are about friendship, water directions, open perspectives or travelling stories in Iceland or Nepal. Here are a few examples:
"it is oh so quiet between the stones, the sea is in front, the wind carries the sound slightly around, behind seljalandsfoss there's a see-through tone"
"we don't take baths in dry rivers"
"friend on the road, so good to see"
"stones scratch the back, the sky, a soundful play"
For more music and photographs please visit: www.martin-schoenegger.com
Key objectives for inclusion
It's good to see, feel and hear things, people, animals and sounds as they are. It brings nature, creativity and us as human beings together. When you see the aesthetics in Maria Harms photography and experience the soundscapes we created, it gives an easy opportunity to experience nature and creativity. As people listened to it in live performances they also got in touch and involved, a visitor one time told me, for him it felt like hiking up that mountain during the concert. I guess, he went for a hike the next day.
Results in relation to category
Besides digital resources which we used in this project, it is more about an analogue or direct experience, and not so much about achievement. I think that's what we all love to experience, of being out there.
There's a clear understanding of direct experiences, and to live this is very important to get to know our own capabilities.
How Citizens benefit
It combines music and nature, brings people together, who love music, who love nature, and hopefully both at the end. The audience was involved to see, listen and share their own experiences - I believe it fits to many people's interests and it can create a very positive attentiveness.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
This project doesn't lean back nor forth, it should show what is important now, in action, feeling and being. It has an essential character, I would say.
Learning transferred to other parties
I wish to start another one this summer - and to perform it live with a silver screen in the background and in several countries. This could open to many more: the experience of the alps in a playful and creative way, sharing this in different countries and audiences, it could also lead to co-working with promoters and other artists.
