40 Part Motet by Janet Cardiff (Venice Architectural Biennale 2010)

The work is based on the music, Spem in alium by Thomas Tallis, a Renaissance composer who wrote the music for a 40 part choir to celebrate the 40th birthday of Queen Elizabeth I. Sung by the Salisbury Cathedral Choir each voice was recorded individually, and then played back on 40 separate speakers installed throughout a space so that the audience can walk 'through the choir' as they sing the work.

On completion the work was initially toured by Field Art Projects throughout the UK and hosted by it's producing partners. It has subsequently gone on to tour internationally and editions are now owned by the Tate Gallery, Museum of Modern Art New York and the National Gallery of Canada. The work was awarded the Millennium Prize by the National Gallery of Canada.

40 Part Motet by Janet Cardiff was produced by Field Art Projects with the Arts Council of England, Canada House, the Salisbury Festival and Salisbury Cathedral Choir, BALTIC Gateshead, The New Art Gallery Walsall and the Now Festival Nottingham, with the assistance of Tascam UK and B&W Loudspeakers.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Venice
• Biennale
• 2010
• Janet Cardiff

[FourteenInTheMAking]

Saw it last week at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. I was alone in the Rideau Chapel with a friend and a securitu guard. It was an amazing experience. You can literally feel the music/sound.

[abracadabra32]

I've seen this work in a french abbey 2 years ago, it's just amazing! If you seat in the middle, you're really in the middle of this incredibly complex polyphony. And if you prefer to walk, you can hear each part separatly. It's absolutly fantastic.

[collettjw]

Now being played at Winchester Great Hall but only until 20 March 2011. Go, and be stunned by what the human voice can achieve. [Vapermy - good recording quality, well done!)

[claudiotinoue]

Saw at NY´s MoMA a few years ago, tks for sharing!

[Euroman002]

I was there: it was stunning!