Hearing aromas
Composer is inspired by sensory loss to create a new concept
THE heaven scent smells of jasmine, coffee beans, freshly baked bread and even musty books will be the odour of the day at a top music festival. The fragrant aromas and the melodies will harmonise to create a whole new experience for music lovers with a combination of sound and smell called Smound.
It’s being unveiled at the Bangor Music Festival that’s being held at the city’s Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre on February 11-12.
The concept has been developed by Aberystwyth-born harpist and composer, Rhodri Davies, who calls it Clywed Arogl (Hearing Smell) in Welsh. Rhodri, 50, who now lives in Swansea, was motivated by his own personal experience.
He said: “In 1999 I significantly lost my sense of smell and taste. Although there has been a partial recovery over the years both senses remain diminished.
“Smell training has been shown to help recovery in some studies, and involves repeated stimulation of the smell nerves.
“Traditionally musical scores privilege the eye but I am keen to investigate how might sound be inspired by different types of smell. Listening to a concert the audience never see the score, what the musicians are playing. In the same way they may not smell what the performers are smelling either.
“This will be the first time I will have done this and it’s a complete experiment,” he added.
Rhodri will be joined in Bangor by his violin playing sister, Angharad, who lives in Aberystwyth, and their friend, Patricia Morgan, who lives in Hay-on-Wye, on keyboard and bass guitar.
He explained their performance during the festival will be in two parts.
Rhodri described the first part during Saturday afternoon as a “sonic installation” that presents the audience with different aromas and sound. The trio will perform at various locations around the Pontio building from midday until around 4pm, interacting with the sound and smell installations.
The aromas used by Rhodri include ground coffee beans, baked bread, lilies, garlic, Jasmin plants, essential oils, incense, lavender, earth, hay, leaves and even musty books.
The second part at 5pm involves a performance that will include an “immersive and interactive experience” for both the audience and performers.
More information about the festival online at www.bangormusicfestival.org.uk and tickets can be purchased from the Pontio Box Office on 01248 382828.