VIDEO: Mickey Hart and Fireworks form the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th Anniversary

by happycat! >^.^<m~ | May 29, 2012 | Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart performed this soundscape on a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge, using encoded sonifications of sounds from the Golden Gate Bridge itself.

from Mickey Hart:

…In honor of the 75th Anniversary Festivities of the Golden Gate Bridge, I will perform my original composition of the sounds of the bridge at the finale at Crissy Field on Sunday May 27th. The most famous bridge in America is actually a musical instrument, which sings its signature song every day, yet its song has never been heard before. Imagine hearing the bridge as intensely as you hear an intimate whisper, a scary scream, an ever-present low-level hum.

To compose the piece, I used data from accelerometers placed all over the span, and “sonified” the data with the help of Mark Ballora of Penn State, Ben Yonas and Jonah Sharp. “Sonification” is the process of converting information and data into music. These accelerometers, designed primarily for seismic events, monitor vibrations of the bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge vibrates from its toes (earth, water) to its thighs (pillars of cement and steel), to its torso and crown (air, sky). We have created a musical soundscape based on the real sounds of the bridge.

I will be performing these extraordinary sounds live on “Bridgette”, our 23-foot long, stainless steel scale model of the Golden Gate Bridge, built by a team of Exploratorium designers and engineers. I’m also bringing the band along for the ride. Come join us for the finale of the festival on Sunday night at 9:50pm at Crissy Field, right after the fireworks. Baby, will there be fireworks!