When you enter a wooded area, you can generally count on hearing a limited catalogue of noises: wind rustling through the leaves, cheerful bird calls, droning insects. But at the Klankenbos (Sound Forest), within the Provincial Domain Dommelhof in northern Limburg, this typical soundscape is punctuated by some other, more unusual, forest sounds.
The Klankenbos is an open-air, permanent collection of sound art – a medium that emphasises the experience of listening and hearing. Klankenbos is a project of Musica, an organisation that has been promoting innovative music education for the last several decades.
“Sound artists use sound as substance,” explains Musica artistic coordinator Eveline Heylen. “Painters have their paint, and poets have their text. For sound artists, the medium is sound.”
Klankenbos has 10 permanent sound art installations and three that are mobile. Each of the pieces was commissioned from a different artist. The works are visually and sonically unique, with sounds ranging from familiar or natural to electronic and otherworldly.
Some of the installations subtly stand out from the surrounding wood, but German artist Erwin Stache’s “Konversation” demands attention with its group of bold, red objects that look as if they are sprouting out of the ground. Walk close enough and you’ll trigger the beginning of an interesting electronic conversation between them: some emit orchestral music, and some play back recordings of ambient sounds. It’s an ever-evolving composition that increases in complexity each time the installation is activated.
Dutch artist and composer Hans Van Koolwijk’s "Oorsprong" (Origin), meanwhile, is striking due to its size. It’s a steel tube 17 metres long and nearly two metres high. It is essentially a giant flute that you can walk right into. Once inside, a blower is activated. As you close the door and continue to the opposite end, you can see the daylight shining in through an opening at the top. This is the labium – the origin of the sound. You not only hear the resulting low, resonant whirr, you can feel it as it vibrates through you.
Another Dutch artist, Paul Panhuysenis, features avian performers in his piece "Kanariestudio". A birdhouse, the activities and sounds of the resident canaries are processed and played back in real time (along with other ambient sounds and noises) through speakers in each wall. As listeners walk around the building, they are exposed to a soundscape that is constantly shifting.
The Klankenbos' mobile sound installations can be viewed as part of a tour or by appointment. One such installation, Flemish artist Moniek Darge’s “Muziekdozen” (Music Boxes) is being incorporated into a children’s musical treasure hunt over Easter break (6-13 April, by reservation).
What is particularly impressive about Klankenbos is its accessibility. Musica’s goal is to bring a somewhat obscure contemporary art form into the public domain. You don’t have to visit a museum, nor be an artist or musician. All you need to do is open your mind. And, of course, your ears.
Combining a permanent sound art collection with an open, natural space is highly unusual. In fact, there is probably no other place like Klankenbos in the world. Musica prides itself on being on the cutting edge of art and music.
Herman Baeten, founder and director, likes to describe his organisation as an “impulse centre” for music. Musica's mission is to bring new ideas – or impulses – to art, to break new ground and influence music education by setting an example.
Besides sound art, Musica has several other areas of focus, including Babelut, an innovative project to immerse babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) in music and art. “It’s very important to bring them in touch with art as soon as possible,” says Heylen. “It’s very good for their development to be creative and listen to sounds.”
Musica has a number of educational activities geared towards older children as well. But unlike traditional children’s music classes, the focus isn’t on technique or learning songs. In Musica's camps and workshops, kids get a chance to interact with artists and are encouraged to play freely with sound.
Finally, Musica promotes music heritage. Professional and aspiring young musicians can participate in early music courses, master classes and other related events.
Klankenbos is always open and is freely accessible. Maps are available on site that guide visitors through the collection and provide descriptions of the works, in Dutch and English. A catalogue with information about the artists and the works is available for purchase at the Musica office.
Free guided tours of Klankenbos are offered in Dutch on every second Sunday of the month. Group tours are available on request. Klankenbos also hosts special events and even birthday parties for children. From 25 June to 5 September 2010, Musica is partnering with the village of Neerpelt for "Good Vibrations", a series of temporary installations that will lead from the Neerpelt train station all the way to Klankenbos, which is about a 25-minute walk.
Klankenbos
Provinciaal Domein Dommelhof
Toekomstlaan 5, Neerpelt
www.musica.be
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