As ever, I hope that you are, and remain, well

This is a reminder for “Alnay” – a winter solstice sound work playing for the 24h before to 24h after the winter solstice which is at 3.58 pm on Tuesday December 21st

WHEN

so … it starts tomorrow, Monday December 20th at 15:58 and will play until Wednesday December 22nd at 15:58

a 4h30m looped sound work

WHERE

The Arches, Newcastle University campus

This is an outdoor venue – The Arches that lead from the area outside the Playhouse and Students Union through to the Quadrangle (see attached map; what3words location ///flags.inner.hatch)

If you plan to come to listen for any period of time, then do wrap up warm – I spent a couple of hours there on Friday doing the sound checks and I was chilled by the end of it – scarves, gloves hats, longjohns etc etc are the order of the day

I’ll be there on and off – I’ll start it late Monday afternoon – I plan to be there at the solstice and ordinarily I would offer wine and mince pies at this point but I feel, sadly, that this would not be in the spirit of trying to get through the pandemic just now – and I’ll be there to complete the work on Wednesday

This much I am sure of in advance – I may be in and out at other times as well but there is some other “stuff” around just now …

So … if you are around, do come whenever you can, engage in socially distanced, possibly solitary, contemplation … and celebrate the solstice

I have long recognised that I have a number of field recordings that I have made over several years that have not fitted into any of the “outlets” that I have used to date – such as appearing in installations or radio works. Add to this the fact that I have for a while been considering the idea of adding music to my field recordings … and the result is “The Test Way”.

To field recordings from September 2014, and with inspiration from John Cage and Brian Eno, I add sparse tones. If you’re interested you can find the album here – https://martinpeccles.bandcamp.com/album/the-test-way

If the idea of this sort of music is of interest to you then if you “follow” me on Bandcamp you’ll automatically hear about new albums.

I’m presenting an audio paper at this conference – a remote activity, so sadly I will not be travelling to northern Greece. The conference paper is available here https://walklistencreate.org/walkingpiece/walking-contencion-island/

What is an audio paper? – good question, and this is my first attempt at producing one. It isn’t just a recording of what you would say in a standard presentation but more an artistic presentation that offers a range of ways of listening. The content is based on the work I have done during lockdown. Do let me know what you think.

I have also made a copy available through my SoundCloud page

The Landlinks works are now appearing in the Ground Works exhibition that opened on 17 June – 27 June at Three Storeys Nailsworth GL6 OJE – https://www.threestoreys.co.uk/whatsonarticles/earthbound-exhibition-thy88

You can hear my sound recording through this QR code

As you may recall I contributed to a collaborative piece of work, Landlinks – you can find details of my contribution here – https://martinpeccles.com/other-sound-works/landlinks/

So, after the passage of time and the persistence of Kel and Lizzie of Groundworks (to whom, kudos and thanks) the Landlinks works will be appearing in the Ground Works exhibition that opens on 17 June – 27 June at Three Storeys Nailsworth GL6 OJE – https://www.threestoreys.co.uk/whatsonarticles/earthbound-exhibition-thy88

Sadly I can’t be there in person but, if all goes according to plan, there will be my sound piece running on headphones and a book and card set version of my walk. If you are passing please drop by.

outer northwest 1 minutes
The Drive Westfield Drive Parker Avenue Elgy Road Elmfield Road
 Oakfield Terrace
Across from a terrace of cottages    blue builders bags    of stones 
Stepped back from the road   back from the wind    an olive tree sways

inner west 2 minutes
The Poplars High Street Graham Park Road Elmfield Approach
Along the ginnel   ivy winds through a wall-top fence   a wren sings
Wall top moss   red brown and green strokes    painted on mortar lime
Pitted surfaces of the wall’s stone    signature   of the mason's pick

outer northeast 7 minutes
The Drive Moor Crescent Moor Road South Rectory Road
A chill wind gusts  in the early dawn      gulls cry above the street
A street-front hedge   dark green dotted with red     a gatepost rots

inner east 3 minutes
The Drive High Street Moor Road South Rectory Road Rectory Avenue
 Rectory Drive Stoneyhurst Road Alnmouth Drive
In the early dawn     I overlook a wooded vale   running down to the
 island shore
A seat beyond a fence       each weather-worn   beneath the trees
Hard pruned elder     a metro passes         a robin’s song