Pedal Tones would realise a year-long, UK wide performance of a new work for pedal bicycle and four ratchet music boxes by Django Bates. The composer hopes this project will link maths, science, sport, health, environment and community through the infinite language of music in a celebration of quintessential British eccentricity.
A pedal bicycle will be adapted, by designer Ben Wilson, so that the turning of its pedals operates four simple ratchet music boxes. Each box plays one voice of a four-part contrapuntal composition by Django Bates. The boxes must be perfectly synchronised. Various cyclists will ride the bike around the UK until the composition has been played from start to finish, currently estimated to take an entire year. A counter would show the cyclists and public what stage the piece is at.
An internationally renowned keyboard player and composer, Django Bates grew up under a variety of musical influences, his father being a collector of Romanian folk, African music and jazz. A founder member of Loose Tubes, Django was a leading light in the 1980s jazz renaissance. The Dutch Metropole Orchestra, The Brodsky Quartet, Joanna MacGregor, Britten Sinfonia and Duisburg Philharmonic have all commissioned new works from Django. As an internationally respected musician he has appeared alongside Michael Brecker, Bill Bruford, Victor Bailey, Wynton Marsalis, Dudu Pukwana and Ronnie Scott. In 1997 he was awarded the prestigious Danish Jazzpar prize, dubbed the ‘Nobel Prize of Jazz’. He is currently Professor of Rhythmic Music at the prestigious Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen.
Ben Wilson is an award winning product/industrial designer who clients include Nike, Ron Arad Associates, Land Rover and Audi, and his work has been exhibited and published worldwide.
“The simplicity of the live bicycle-driven performance element of Django Bates’ idea belies the complexity of the musical structure – configuring 4 musical boxes to create music that lasts 365 days as it travels the country.” New Music Award panel
www.djangobates.co.uk
www.myspace.com/djangobates