Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, Number 1. 6th March 1974

[Introduction]

The Sonic Circus began as an invitation to design a musical 'event' which would become part of the 1973 November Proms in Wellington. A festive Sunday afternoon (or evening) that would explore the knooks and crannies of the Wellington Town Hall. Variously permutated performances of Gabrieli antiphonal music, brass band music, dance music, music for solo instruments, sound environments, closed circuit television, helium filled balloons. But the scale was just too large, and time was too short and so the performance date was put forward to February or March. But the Town Hall was simply not available at any convenient time and it seemed as if the whole idea might have to be abandoned.

A New Venue? Why not the University? Politically the idea was sound; on the one hand it could provide a considerable and generous contribution from The Establishment to the Students' Orientation Week, and on the other hand it might bring onto campus many people who, for one reason or another, would never otherwise have ventured onto such hallowed ground.

Artisitically it offered new solutions to some basic problems, whereas before musics would have intruded upon (destroyed?) each other, here were numerous venues, all seperate and isolated acoustically, yet in close proximity, each with a different and individual character.

In choosing suitable works I was mindful of NZ music. Idea: Why not a Festival Exclusively of NZ Music? A showcase (vested interests). Too much concert music becomes expensive and too heavy. Concentrate rather on environments.

Idea: Six hours of continuous events simultaneously on eight different venues. With their timetable programmes the participants may select and structure their own programmes. It something bores then there are at least six alternatives....listen to music, watch a film, have a drink.

Jack Body

another Bulmone Sculpture

another Bulmone [ unclear: Sculpture]

Tab Bulmone under one of his works

Tab Bulmone under one of his works