"The Forty Part Motet (2001), a sound installation by Janet Cardiff (Canadian, born 1957), will be the first presentation of contemporary art at The Cloisters."It made me wonder what it would be like to be a choir member able to perform an exquisite piece of complex music. By walking the perimeter, as the first video below demonstrates, the listener is able to focus on individual voices, one at a time. I was thrilled to practically hear a new piece of music come to life at various speakers, experiencing each chorister's personal soundscape, as I walked the perimeter.
The Cloisters describes this as an installation of contemporary art - the first one ever - at the museum. Perhaps they could make this a permanent exhibition? It would be an awesome addition.
From YouTube, a good example of the soundscape (although in a different architectural setting):
More about the project, as performed in another location:
