Beijing sounds broadcast by bike

Volunteers study a map in preparation for broadcasting Beijing's sounds Photo by Zhang Nan

¡¡¡¡Hutong residents were surprised and curious about the bicycles equipped with amplifiers broadcasting the sounds of Peter Cusack cruising through their neighborhood. Many curious and confused people came out to see what was going on.

¡¡¡¡ Volunteers recruited by the British Council rode bicycles equipped with amplifiers in Beijing'shutongs in the Baitasi area, with common sounds produced by Peter Cusack broadcasting through these amplifiers.

¡¡¡¡ This is a part of the ¡°Sound and the City¡±- an activity held by the British Council, which was reported by Beijing Today last week. Peter Cusack is the third British musician invited by the British Council¡°I'm intested in sounds because it causes people to have different opinions. Different people like different sounds.¡± said Cusack, ¡°Beijing's sound environment is quite interesting and diversified. There are many unique soundhat I've never heard before in the UK.¡After collecting sounds and visiting different places in Beijing, Peter Cusack mixed the sounds by computer. The sounds he collected were varied from ducks to bicycle bells.

¡¡¡¡ While volunteers were riding the bicycles through the lanes, the amplifiers broadcasted these sounds.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°It is interesting,¡± said a hutong resident, ¡°I'm not sure what the sounds are exactly, but I can distinguish some of them are sounds of pedicabs' bells. Although the musician comes from Britain, he recorded the common sounds close to Beijing's people and culture. The sounds are very gentle, which makes people feel comfortable, and are niceo broadcast in quiet lanes.¡±Eugene Martynec, a musician from Canada took part in the event also. He rode a bicycle together with the volunteers.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°It is great,¡± he said with excitement. ¡°It is interesting to ride biles with these sounds broadcasting. People look at us with curiosity.¡± Martynec also said that in his opinion, Beijing was a noisy city. ¡°The noise pollution is serious here. However, Peter Cusack's sounds give me different feeling.¡±Cusack was very satisfied with the activity. ¡°It was nice to see many people take part in riding the bicycles enthusiastically.¡±He also had some unexpected gains during the activity. He met with a man crying out grinding shears and kitchen knives and two men riding tricycles crying for recycling in a lane. Cusack was excited and took out his recorder and recorded the sounds immediately.

¡¡¡¡ Also as a part of ¡°Sund and the City¡±, Brian Eno, another British musician, installed his sound equipment in Ritan Parklast Friday. His sound equipment is at the Ritan circular mound altar, which will broadcast sounds of bells from morning to the evening everyday until November.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°I like parks in Beijing because there are always many old people doing exercise there. While many people prefer to make music for young people, I would like to make music for ol people.¡± said Eno.He said that the Ritan circular mound altar should be one of the quietest places in Beijing. ¡It is dangerous to add music in a quiet place.¡± said Eno, ¡°Since people like quiet places, the sounds that Iake should not break the silence but make it even more still.¡± Thus, he chose to make sounds of bells.It seems that his choice was correct. When the bell sounds were broadcasted at the altar, many senior citizens enjoyed it very much. A woman relaxing at the altar with her granddaughter expressed that the sounds were very soft and nice.

¡°The high and low sounds are staggered and are not very strong. It makes me feel comfortable. And te sounds remind me of the bell sounds in temples, which makes people feel tranquil,¡± said Eno.The forth musician, Clive Bell will reveal his music production this weekend. He has produced CDs recording his rendition of famous Chinese songs. These CDs will be distributed to bars, restaurants and other gathering places early next month.

¡¡ Hutong residents were surprised and curious about the bicycles equipped with amplifiers broadcasting the sounds of Peter Cusack cruising through their neighborhood. Many curious and confused people came out to see what was going on.

¡¡¡¡ Volunteers recruited by the British Council rode bicycles equipped with amplifiers in Beijing'shutongs in the Baitasi area, with common sounds produced by Peter Cusack broadcasting through these amplifiers.

¡¡¡¡ This is a part of the ¡°Sound and the City¡±- an activity held by the British Council, which was reported by Beijing Today last week. Peter Cusack is the third British musician invited by the British Council¡°I'm intested in sounds because it causes people to have different opinions. Different people like different sounds.¡± said Cusack, ¡°Beijing's sound environment is quite interesting and diversified. There are many unique soundhat I've never heard before in the UK.¡After collecting sounds and visiting different places in Beijing, Peter Cusack mixed the sounds by computer. The sounds he collected were varied from ducks to bicycle bells.

¡¡¡¡ While volunteers were riding the bicycles through the lanes, the amplifiers broadcasted these sounds.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°It is interesting,¡± said a hutong resident, ¡°I'm not sure what the sounds are exactly, but I can distinguish some of them are sounds of pedicabs' bells. Although the musician comes from Britain, he recorded the common sounds close to Beijing's people and culture. The sounds are very gentle, which makes people feel comfortable, and are niceo broadcast in quiet lanes.¡±Eugene Martynec, a musician from Canada took part in the event also. He rode a bicycle together with the volunteers.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°It is great,¡± he said with excitement. ¡°It is interesting to ride biles with these sounds broadcasting. People look at us with curiosity.¡± Martynec also said that in his opinion, Beijing was a noisy city. ¡°The noise pollution is serious here. However, Peter Cusack's sounds give me different feeling.¡±Cusack was very satisfied with the activity. ¡°It was nice to see many people take part in riding the bicycles enthusiastically.¡±He also had some unexpected gains during the activity. He met with a man crying out grinding shears and kitchen knives and two men riding tricycles crying for recycling in a lane. Cusack was excited and took out his recorder and recorded the sounds immediately.

¡¡¡¡ Also as a part of ¡°Sund and the City¡±, Brian Eno, another British musician, installed his sound equipment in Ritan Parklast Friday. His sound equipment is at the Ritan circular mound altar, which will broadcast sounds of bells from morning to the evening everyday until November.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°I like parks in Beijing because there are always many old people doing exercise there. While many people prefer to make music for young people, I would like to make music for ol people.¡± said Eno.He said that the Ritan circular mound altar should be one of the quietest places in Beijing. ¡It is dangerous to add music in a quiet place.¡± said Eno, ¡°Since people like quiet places, the sounds that Iake should not break the silence but make it even more still.¡± Thus, he chose to make sounds of bells.It seems that his choice was correct. When the bell sounds were broadcasted at the altar, many senior citizens enjoyed it very much. A woman relaxing at the altar with her granddaughter expressed that the sounds were very soft and nice.

¡¡¡¡ ¡°The high and low sounds are staggered and are not very strong. It makes me feel comfortable. And te sounds remind me of the bell sounds in temples, which makes people feel tranquil,¡± said Eno.The forth musician, Clive Bell will reveal his music production this weekend. He has produced CDs recording his rendition of famous Chinese songs. These CDs will be distributed to bars, restaurants and other gathering places early next month.

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