Great Noises That Fill the Air. Bow Gamelan Ensemble (formed East London, 1983) - ACE194.2

Musician performing, man whirling fireworks in the background. Woodcut of man in extravagant armour. Sounds of explosions. VO quotes "The English excel in dancing and music for they are active and lively. They are vastly fond of great noises that fill the air, such as the firing of cannon, drums, and the ringing of bells. So that it is common for a number of them when drunk to go up into some belfry and ring the bells for hours together." [Paul Hentzner, Travels in England]. Docklands scenes, with piles of rubbish being hauled around by cranes. VO explains that it was a case of finding suitable bits of discarded rubbish, cleaning them, and adapting them to produce sound. Performers using sheet metal and home-made bells. Members of the Ensemble picking over scrap metal on a waste dump. VO explains that it’s free and good for making percussive sound. Arc welding pieces of metal together; Richard Wilson explains that metal allows sound to come out. Ensemble sounds over shots of refinery. Ensemble performing using a variety of techniques, including heating the inside of metal tubes with a blow-torch.