Meyer Sound News : Bill Fontana's "Speeds of Time" Creates Urban Soundscape in London with Meyer Sound

Bill Fontana's "Speeds of Time" Creates Urban Soundscape in London with Meyer Sound

"In my works, I've come to rely on the accuracy of Meyer Sound loudspeakers. My medium is sound. I could create the most interesting piece, but if it doesn't translate to the space, it's worthless."

- Bill Fontana
Sound Designer, "Speeds of Time" exhibit

Throughout his 30-year career, San Francisco-based ambient sound pioneer Bill Fontana has made an art form of using urban environments as the canvas for his cutting-edge experiments in sonic imagery, many of which depend on the exceptional clarity and preciseness of Meyer Sound technology. This September and October, Fontana shows a new exhibit in London—revisiting his 2004 musical deconstruction of the famed Big Ben, albeit with a new twist.

While the original work looked inward on the sounds of the iconic timepiece's mechanisms, this new work, also known as "Speeds of Time," focuses on the clock's sonic character within the cityscape and its interplay with myriad other urban sounds, from passing aircraft to the nearby Horse Guards Clock at Whitehall. A network of microphones placed in the bell tower and on surrounding rooftops uses the speed of sound to create an aural map of central London, with the data streaming via 3G technology.

To achieve a high level of realism for the exhibit at the Tate Britain gallery, Fontana chose a Meyer Sound system featuring the new self-powered MM-4XP miniature loudspeakers. The design was a collaborative effort between Fontana and Scott George of London-based Autograph Sound Recording Ltd. "In my works, I've come to rely on the accuracy of Meyer Sound loudspeakers," states Fontana. "My medium is sound. I could create the most interesting piece, but if it doesn't translate to the space, it's worthless."

Fontana has maintained a long and close relationship with Meyer Sound founders John and Helen Meyer, and the company has often supported his work, even designing the original MM-4 miniature loudspeaker for an earlier project in Lyon, France. "Bill is a groundbreaking artist, and working with him has been inspirational to us as well," says Helen Meyer. "His use of unconventional urban spaces has led to some of the most innovative locations for Meyer Sound products, and we are proud to be a part of his success."

The Speeds of Time exhibit is featured at the Tate Britain gallery in London from September 5 to October 3. Live streaming will be available on the BBC website.

September, 2008