tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles is an innovative, participatory art experience developed by Matthew Ariaratnam, a Vancouver-based interdisciplinary sound artist, composer, listener and guitarist. Created with tones imbued with wishes to heal the world from people of all walks of life, the 37-minute sonic composition will be diffused on speakers during a public bike ride on September 9, 2023.
Ariaratnam invited participants to follow a short meditative score, recording a tone as they emerged from their experience. This unique process resulted in a collection of vulnerable, playful and highly personal recordings that document intimate, embodied moments. The people behind the sounds hail from a wide range of music and sound communities and open the door for listeners to explore some rarely heard but delightful sonic niches. Highlights include Vancouver’s Kettle Society Choir, field recordings of Pacific Spirit Park, and a gathering of vocal and instrumental performances that trace Ariaratnam’s musical friendships between Montreal, Calgary, Gibsons, Vancouver, and Victoria.
Matthew Ariaratnam’s composition carefully weaves these individual moments in time into an experience of community, reminding listeners of everything we hold in common through our care for the environment, our grievable lives, and our shared wish for healing.
This project is part of The Only Animal’s Artist Brigade:
www.theonlyanimal.com/the-artist-brigade/
released September 10, 2023
Tone Diffusers:
Adrian Avendaño
Andromeda Monk
Ben Wylie
Nico Henderson
Healing Tone contributors:
Vi-An Diep – Zheng, Carol Sawyer – voice, Joanna Hauser – clarinet, Harley Small – piano, Yvonne Chew – voice, Ariane Bell Vila – voice, Kettle Society Choir: (Michelle T, Yvonne Kato, Amy Lam, Adrienne Walsh, Dirk Baker, Carole Cote, Mark Gagnon, Chadelia, Damian Murphy – voice), Jesus Caballero – percussion, Spencer Schoening – electronics, Laura Fukumoto – field recordings, Wryly Anderson – ocarina, Alex Masse – Suzuki Q chord, George Allison – vibraphone, Jasper Wrinch – keyboards, Wen Wen Lu – brush and water, ink stick and ink stone, Brenda Leadlay – voice, Sophia Smith – saxophone, David Bergeon – electronics, Aneeq Kalson – voice, Wry Finkelstein – voice, Art Action Earwig (Minah Lee, Wrly Anderson, Tadafumi Tamura) – voice, James Meger – electronics, Rebecca Bruton – voice and guitar, Jessica Gabriel – voice, Chantal Gering – voice, Carolyn Nakagawa – trumpet, Andromeda Monk – synth, Lief Hall – voice, Hillary Tufford – voice, Amanda Sum – voice, Julie Lebel – voice, Leonie Roberts – voice, Alex Mah – voice, Margot Butler – accordion, Grace Ma – voice singing “Yuyeihua (The Rain-Night Flower)”, Raj Gill – gongs and percussion, Viviane Houle – voice, Anonymous – drums, Anonymous – voice, Alexis Castrogiovanni – voice, April O'Dwyer – input mixer, Linnea Gwiazda, Cory Thibert, Juniper Wren – voice and percussion, Ben Wylie – harmonica and field recording, Cathy Stubbington – voice, Tom Cryan – voice, Nina Corissa Ortiz – field recordings, Soressa Gardener - voice and laptop, Matthew Ariaratnam – piano, cello, guitar, gong
Image:
Wen Wen Lu
www.wenwenart.com
www.healingtonesforeveryone.art