Philip Blackburn's Sewer Pipe Organ

There is a parallel city beneath our feet, connected by pipes and caverns, carrying rainwater, electricity, (un-)sanitary waste, and utilities. In St. Paul, It has been carved into the limestone rock for over a hundred years and extends for many miles. Above-ground pedestrians rarely notice the openings--manholes, gratings, and outfalls--and can barely imagine the subterranean spaces. That is where sound comes in: ears can judge volume,materials, shapes, and space better than eyes, in this case.

Environmental sound artist/composer Philip Blackburn composed two pieces to be played back into this environment: one (heard here), an electronic extrapolation of 60-cycle hum performed on the Virtual Rhythmicon (that relates harmonic proportions to both melody and rhythmic cycles); and, two, an organic industrial soundscape that evokes steampunk Victoriana of giant booming machines, innocent children playing, and an imaginary community of blissful troglodytes.

These were played back from a hard-disc recorder via self-powered speakers (2 satellites and subwoofer) suspended at the base of two manholes. The entire network of storm drains were filled with the resonance: 5 manholes across a 300 yard area. The drains amplified and colored the sound, emphasizing certain resonant frequencies, according to their length, diameter, and materials. Passers-by noted the unusual sound sources and affected their behavior as they passed; they could now map the familiar territory with a whole new appreciation.

Sewer Pipe Organ was commissioned by Public Art St. Paul and presented at Northern Spark Festival 2011 and for the Imagining America artists and scholars in public life conference, 2011.

Special thanks to:
Christine Podas-Larson, Ashley Hanson, Shanai Matteson
Bruce Elder, Steve Dietz, Mike Hahm, Stacy Williams, Gary Korum, Susie Odegard

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sewer pipe organ
• sound installation
• philip blackburn
• public art st paul