TUNING FORK

Tuning Fork

Stephen Bradley & John Sturgeon

poetic text & vocals: sturgeon 

coronet, percussive elements, electronic synthesis & mix: bradley

Stephen Bradley and John Sturgeon have collaborated in creating sound art works, as well as streaming events and performances both nationally and internationally for over 16 years. Mutual interest in spatial aspects of surround sound, the communal power of storytelling and a history of creating unique sonic environments that often utilize aspects of short-wave, acoustic & electronic noise - inform both the content and structure of Tuning Fork.

Central themes coalesce around the acoustic and spiritual act of tuning, of finding elements of alignment or harmonics from seeming randomness, crystalized in the experience of a total solar eclipse. The sonic-scape of Tuning Fork explores a process of frequency scanning amid the vast interstices of cosmic-like vibrations alternately discovering then losing, finding again – signal. This sonic brew provides the medium from which the story is tuned. Shifting tones of the narrative arc delineate a journey to the central trajectory of the total solar eclipse that raced coast-to-coast across America in August of 2017.

Sound and text modulate from observational tones to eerie impressions of an altered state born by the celestial magic. Lastly an unanticipated communal dimension emerges among eclipse viewers before these reflections detune, disappearing back into a dissipating sonic stew.

Eclipse Field Report: generative experience

On Monday, August 21st, 2017, at 11:31 AM MDT, Sturgeon experienced the full totality of the Great American Eclipse on Mackey Reservoir, Idaho - just N.W. of Craters of the Moon National Preserve on Rt. 93 (check it out on Google Maps). Totality lasted 2 minutes 17 sec.

Truly overwhelmed by the soul-grabbing wonder of the moment - adequate words still escape these profound yet ephemeral moments. Though that second for second the 2:17 minutes of totality - were some of the most spiritually enriching of my life!” The few seconds just before & then the eclipse itself was like "pure acid”.

Tuning Fork

7:15 mins. 4.1 surround sound

poetic text & vocals: sturgeon 

coronet, percussive elements, electronic synthesis & mix: bradley

Monday, August 21st 2017 at 11:31 AM MDT,

experienced the full totality of the Solar Eclipse at 28º Leo

on Mackey Reservoir –

just N.W. of Craters of the Moon National Preserve - Idaho.

Drove north up 93 -

Las Vegas to Jackpot NV on the Idaho border –

Then got up at 4 AM Monday

& headed through Idaho’s Snake River Valley

on schedule to make Mackey Reservoir by 10 AM.

43.96° N, 113.70° W –

Mackey Reservoir is situated less than a mile

from dead-center of the 70 mile swath

of the eclipse shadow –

that raced east across America.

Totality lasted a full 2 minutes 17 sec.

Moments before the eclipse reached totality

a flock of 6 geese flew extremely low overhead,

then turned sharply heading northwest across Mackay Reservoir –

beating away from the eclipsing sun.

Tremulous light swallowed the all about - dimmer.

Yet held in that ebbing

enough – seeing of the world fall-away

to atoms of amorphous paisley.

Uncertain shadows conjured spatial distance unequatable.

Then in one last breath of fading –

Whoosh:

- some ineffable being

blew the candle of the cosmos - out.

Dark:

- crystal clear night sky, stars everywhere,

Mars & Venus -right there- with the diamond corona.

Quiet:

silent as our last moment on earth

We - clustered around that little reservoir,

sucked in our last air and held breath.

Instantly - the taut rules of space & time

levitated the unity of Faces

towards the un-foreseen portal.

Then:

- as with the deepest things we know:

Come & Go

Gone:

the diamond ring no more,
the night sky blinked out by daylight.

All - struck with collective bliss.

Just after the eclipse waned

a solitary screeching King Fisher flew low overhead –

like some - Clarion of Change

signaling an all clear.

Who knows what these signs mean,

or, even if they were signs –

Leaving the reservoir –

joining the arterial exodus

from everywhere to - “Craters of the Moon”

the destination seemed so apropos

after such celestial magic -

Ridiculously crowded –

most were there as I was:

Eclipse Viewers not yet - willing release - from the spell.

Like a festive family affair - happy campers

soaked full with the eclipse’s staggering impact.

Each glance & spontaneous conversation

affirmed a bond of recognition

that went beyond the eclipse itself:

palpable resonating

with primal community –

on board - a self-tuning itch

for transcendence.