Scanning, Jamming, Studio Tests & Pigeons for Victory
At 6.30pm this evening Aleks Kolkowski presents a new sound montage created especially for Radiophrenia: ‘The Bishop Sound Collection – Theatre & Radio Sound Effects on Lacquer Discs from the 1940s – No. 1: Scanning, Jamming, Studio Tests & Pigeons for Victory’
The British Library Sound Archive recently completed the transfer and digitisation of thousands of lacquer (acetate) discs originating from the Bishop Sound and Electrical Company – a maker and purveyor of recorded sound effects predominately for the theatre. Founded by Jack Bishop during the1930s the company operated successfully until the late1950s. BLSA Composer-in-Residence Aleks Kolkowski has sifted through a vast number of radio-related recordings from the Bishop Collection in order to compile this special montage composition for Radiophrenia. In it, we hear the sounds of World War Two and Cold War radio scanning and jamming; the surface noises from heavily worn acetate discs; sound engineer’s test recordings, chatter and snatches from a radio play.
Kolkowski’s BLSA residency is part of Sound And Music’s Embedded Composers Scheme.
This programme is repeated at 11.30am on Sunday, 11th September.