Chartres, one hour of sound in a Gothic Cathedral
On a weekday in 1999, from a fixed point inside Chartres cathedral, I made an hour long sound recording. The recording formed part of my sound installation Silence Gothique for the exhibition Gotische Reflecties in the Stadsgalerij Heerlen.
At the time of recording, no organized religious activity was taking place. The building was being visited by tourists and groups of believers who were talking, praying and singing.
In 2010, I began to translate this universe of sounds into words and sentences, without stating the source of the sound or referring to the physical space of the cathedral.
In order to be able to approach sound as autonomous energy, I stripped my language of the styles and tools which are often used in describing sound: sound imitating words, words derived from seeing, words conveying human feelings, poetic / expressive phrases, technical sound and musical terms, similes and metaphors.
Wherever possible, I replaced words of Latin or French origins with words that I felt were more descriptive in nature.
All these restrictions and interventions were important in my attempt to come closer to the fundamental nature of both language and sound through listening and writing.
year | 2013 |
further information | concept and text: Toine Horvers.
translation to English: Simon Benson.
text advise: Dick van Teylingen.
graphic design: Vera Bekema.
editor: Onomatopee, Eindhoven NL.
print: Lecturis.
edition: 250 copies in Dutch 500 copies in English.
Order: freek@onomatopee.net or Toine@toinehorvers.nl
price: 12.50€ for both Dutch and English 20€ |