PETO-PLACE SOUND-GATE

An exploration into finding a new language to navigate through Great Portland Street  using the method of ‘drifting’. An interpretation of my auditory reactions to Great Portland Street was translated into a plan drawing through actions that mimicked certain sound sources like the visuals of a paintbrush smearing paint onto paper matching the sounds that come from someone sweeping leaves on the road. A drift through the site was taken in order to assess an element of Great Portland Street needing a transformation by the creative user. I felt as though I was being navigated through auditory reactions like being repelled from central points and being attracted towards quieter streets.  The journey of the drift was mapped alongside taking recordings and measurements of noise or ‘disorganised sound’.
I decided to use the rules of traditional music notation and compose a symphony for the site, a navigational tool kit for the creative user that includes musical scores being put together by the creative user and being played through musical instruments on site. 4 video stills were chosen and assigned 4 different instrument families and the necessary time signatures, pitches, speeds etc. were assigned through a key that was applied to each recording.