Harmonic Fields is the brainchild of French composer Pierre Sauvageot in which 500 instruments form a veritable orchestra and include the different sections of symphonic ensembles: strings, woodwinds, and percussion.
Wind-powered instruments have been around since ancient times. The Aeolian harp, for example, named after Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of the wind, became popular as a household instrument during the Romantic Era. Their vibrant timbres produce an ethereal, almost mystical, music that many people find alludes to higher realms.
‘Harmonic Fields’ and Pierre Sauvageot
After traditional secondary school studies, Pierre Sauvageot dropped out of school, for reasons more political than artistic. Then he
created one of the very first street brass bands. During the 1970s, he joined the Théâtre de l’Aquarium, Les Macloma, and started his musical carrier as a trumpet player in the local free-jazz movement along with his trumpet teacher, Bernard Vitet.
In 2010, Pierre Sauvageot inaugurated a new phase in his work with Harmonic Fields: a symphonic march for 500 wind instruments and a moving audience. It was first performed in Martigues, France during the ‘Odyssey of Martigues’ when 10,000 people showed up to wander amongst the instruments. Since then, Harmonic Fields is touring around the World and you can find out more about their activity on lieuxpublics.com
Source: lieuxpublics.com, theguardian.com, wikipedia.org
Photos: Henning Thomsen via byensojne.com