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Birds

by Kathryn Calder

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Hello! This track is intended as a free download, so please go ahead and download it! If you would like to donate/purchase the song, the money goes to the musicians. Thank you!

'Birds' was recorded in 2020 & 2021 as part of Kathryn Calder's 'Patched In' public art installation in Lee Mong Kow Way (631 Fisgard St.) in Victoria, BC.

About Patched In:
Patched In (2021) is an art, light, and sound installation inspired by the early days of the global pandemic when the urban environment fell silent, and the voices of songbirds became more audible. The project was developed by musician and composer Kathryn Calder, during her term as Artist in Residence with the City of Victoria, in collaboration with the Victoria Chinese Public School, artists Meghan Hildebrand (mural design) and Jesse Campbell (mural installation and birdhouse design), computer programmers Andrew Schloss and Duncan MacConnell, and musicians Marek Tyler and Eddie Mau.

School children from the Victoria Chinese Public School painted wooden birdhouses which hang in the trees and along the wall in the alley. The mural, designed by Meghan Hildebrand and installed by Jesse Campbell, is a patchwork of bright colours reminiscent of a quilt, and reflective of the diversity of tones found in songbirds and plant life. The larger birdhouses, with their colourful patterns that match the mural, were painted by Jesse Campbell, and are intended to draw people into the alley, like curious birds might be drawn to bright objects. Twinkle lights thread through the branches of the magnolia trees, turning on when the sun sets, evoking stars in the night sky.

Periodically each day, music composed by Kathryn based on local birdsong can be heard. Kathryn translated each bird’s call into short melodies using synthesizer, piano and her voice, while gentle chords play underneath that are interpretations of ocean and forest habitats. Andrew Schloss and Duncan MacConnell used Max/MSP software to bring motion to the melodies as they move through speakers in the alley, and to create randomly generated combinations of melodies so that the music is never exactly the same. Marek Tyler added drums and percussion, and Eddie Mau brought the beautiful sound of the erhu to the project.

This recorded version of 'Birds' is intended to be another way to experience the installation.

credits

released January 4, 2022
- - -
Patched In credits:

Kathryn Calder - Synth, piano, voice
Meghan Hildebrand - mural design
Jesse Campbell - mural installation and birdhouse design
Victoria Chinese Public School students - small painted birdhouses
Andrew Schloss - Max/MSP programming
Duncan MacConnell - Max/MSP programming
Marek Tyler - Drums/percussion
Eddie Mau - Erhu

Composed and arranged by: Kathryn Calder
Mixed by: Kathryn Calder
Mastered by: Colin Stewart

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Kathryn Calder Victoria, British Columbia

Kathryn Calder is a musician, songwriter, recording artist, and record label and studio owner based in Victoria, BC, Canada.

For the past 16 years, Kathryn has been recording and touring as a vocalist/keyboardist with The New Pornographers. She has also released three solo records, five albums with Immaculate Machine, and one album with her latest project, Frontperson. ... more

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