The New York Walkscape

The New York Walkscape, New York, USA

20140621

Imagine walking through Lower Manhattan and hearing the sounds around you become ever-changing music as you move. From one spot to the next sounds differ and the character of what you hear shifts. Your experience takes on a personal soundtrack, changing your perception and awareness.

New York Walkscape, by Dutch composer duo Strijbos & Van Rijswijk opens up an entirely new aural layer within the city. This software-coded musical score is unraveled by the physical exploration of Lower Manhattan (formerly New Amsterdam). Based on the custom-built iPhone app called Walk With Me, the Walkscape deploys GPS for musical purposes and blurs the boundaries between installation and composition.

Using melodies, rhythmic patterns, chatter, and electronic sounds from American and Dutch composers (curated from the archives of New York’s MATA Festival and Holland’s Gaudeamus Music Week), the piece invites participants to enter into a musical conversation with their city. All you need is a pair of headphones and an iPhone.