Music in the Key of Whimsy

W Fmusic2 416 Feat

Most people don't think of turning a swimming pool into a musical instrument. As unusual as the idea might seem, that is exactly what Polish artists Florence To and Alex Mensies decided to do.

Using a combination of bell chimes, aluminum tubes, violin bows and a bronze metal sheet, the pair transformed an empty indoor pool in Glasgow into a giant instrument. The pool is located at the Govanhill Baths where the artists were intrigued by the facility's unusual acoustics.

"The acoustics in a swimming pool can be quite challenging with the strong resonance," the artists told The Spaces magazine. "We wanted to create something that was first initiated from the space, rather than to create an idea, then reconstruct it in the space."

In addition to the dynamic acoustics, the Govanhill Baths have a long and proud history. Originally designed by architect AB MacDonald, the baths closed in 2001 after 95 years of use. A local trust raised funds to renovate the site and the baths reopened in 2013.

The music composed for the setting is decidedly eerie and atmospheric, more like a form of sound sculpture than traditional music. "As the project is based on the psychological properties of sound and the transcending effects it can produce," said To, "the strong resonance of the pool was perfect for the performance."

Next on the agenda…hot tub jets that play Beethoven?

COV | ETANAN from Florence To on Vimeo.

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