Under Erebus

About

In November 1999 I was fortunate to be able to travel to Antarctica as part of the Artists to Antarctica programme run under the auspices of Antarctica New Zealand. While on the 'ice', I recorded several sounds, many of which are included in this piece. The work is an attempt to create an expressive work of sonic art that reflects my personal interpretation of the environment of Antarctica and my experiences there. The Antarctic sounds incorporated into the work are (in order) the sounds of Walking on Snow, Skuas, Polar Wind, Radio Communications, Weddell Seals, an Adelie Penguin Rookery and Antarctic White Out. My Antarctic experience is one of the most significant and important experiences of my life. The various moods, expansive grandeur and majestic ice-scapes of Antarctica have left a deep and enduring impression. With thanks to Antarctic New Zealand, Creative New Zealand and Dr. Joe Waas (University of Waikato) whose recordings of the Weddell Seals augmented my own.