Complaints Choir

NEW! Watch a video of the Complaints Choir performing June 13, 2010 at the VAG. Click here.

The Vancouver Complaints Choir is back - featuring music by veda Hille!
Sunday, June 13, 2010

1PM - In front of VNM and the Canadian Music Centre; 837 Davie Street [map]

2PM - Intersection of W. Cordova and Seymour (near Waterfront Station [map]

3PM - Intersection of Robson and Homer (near the Vancouver Public Library) [map]

4PM - Intersection of Robson and Howe (near the Vancouver Art Gallery) [map]

Vancouver New Music presents an all new Complaints Choir! This hilarious community project has participants singing a litany of complaints. The music has been specially composed for the choir by Veda Hille, and the words contributed by...you!

Check out international Complaints Choirs at http://www.complaintschoir.org/

Spring 2010 Soundwalks
The horizontal city - Led by Chris O'Connor
Sunday, April 25, 2010, 5PM
Meeting Location: Vancouver Art Gallery (robson & Howe); meet on the steps on the Robson Street side of the gallery [map]
FREE
Looping back on itself multiple times, this soundwalk eschews the ‘vertical’ city in favour of a ‘horizontal’ exploration.

Marauding through the sounds of Marpole - Led by Jean Routhier
Sunday, May 2, 2010, 5pm
Meeting Location: Characters Cafe/Bookstore (8419 Granville St.) [map]
FREE - There is still space left for this walk - please feel free to just show up!
This walk explores the industrial side of Vancouver’s south end.


Fall 2009 Soundwalks
Soundwalk - Led by Chris O'Connor
Sunday, September 20, 2009, 2pm
Meeting location: Strathcona at Hawks and Georgia (corner of MacLean Park)
Free
This soundwalk will utilize both drawing (on paper) and movement (in space) while exploring the curiosities of this historic neighbourhood.

False Creek Soundwalk - Led by Kristen Roos
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 2pm
Meeting Location: the courtyard of the Plaza of Nations at the stage in front of the Edgewater Casino (750 Pacific Blvd.)
Free
This soundwalk listens to the aural environment that currently exists around False Creek. Tourism, consumerism and global economic forces predominantly define the spaces explored during the walk.


Soundwalks are FREE and open to the public, but participants must call to reserve: 604.633.0861. Participants should be sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for any weather condition.

A Soundwalk is a silent group walk led along a planned route to experience a location's ambiance and underlying rhythms. All too often the sounds of the environment pass by unnoticed because of our uncanny ability to shut them out. A Soundwalk enables its participants to actively listen, opening ears and consciousness to the complex orchestration that the environment is composing at all times. It is a musical-sonic adventure that reveals the banal to be extraordinary!

Go on a soundwalk anytime! Click here for a Do-it-Yourself Soundwalk
by Stephanie Loveless and Brady Marks.

Phil Minton - Feral Choir
Sunday, January 24, 2010, 4pm
Ironworks Studio, 235 Alexander Street
Phil Minton’s Feral Choir workshop has been a hit all over the world.  A renowned singer and improviser, Minton led a choir of community participants in a fun and experimental vocal workshop and performance.
http://www.philmintonsferalchoir.com/

[more info...]

Sonic Playground - Painted Sounds
Graphic Scores - notations and visual representations
co-presented with Western Front New Music
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 11am - 5pm
Western Front, 303 East 8th Avenue
FREE, however as the number of participants is limited, please email giorgio [at] newmusic [dot] org by November 8, 2009 to register.

Painted Sounds is a workshop that will focus on the use of graphic notation, where signs and symbols are used to represent sounds.  Using graphic notation both composers and performers do not need any prior knowledge of how to write or read traditional musical notation. All participants will be encouraged to engage in large-scale abstract drawings that will form the basis for one collective or multiple graphic scores that will then be interpreted and performed by the group. At the end of the workshop participants will give a live music performance of the piece(s) they've created. For anyone from ages 12 to 120; bring your own instruments and your voice.

Season media sponsor - 2009/2010