The Art of Sounds (Pierre Henry)

.forum - week five.

"The Art of Sounds" is an interesting film which delves into the life and mind of French composer, musique concrète pioneer - Pierre Henry. What does it reveal? A chauvinistic, humorous old wizard (he reminds me of Gandalf in Lord of the Rings) of the mixing desk. Above all the man is clearly obsessed with sound.

In the opening scene (my favourite) Henry walks around with a spaced pair of microphones, stalking sounds as it were. After telling a passing by jogger that his footsteps are "beautiful," Henry walks into a tunnel. From here the soundtrack gradually changes from the sounds of Henry's innocent field recordings into one of his pieces. However, on screen Henry continues to explore this tunnel for these sounds (his music). All in all, Henry comes across as a extremely serious but still light-hearted man.

"Musique concrète is the art of deciding, the art of choice. One sound is taken rather than another, and that is where composing begins."

- Pierre Henry, in Pierre Henry: The Art of Sounds.

.sources.

Whittington, Stephen 03.04.08, "Music Technology - Week 5," Forum of EMU, Adelaide University.

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