Cambridge Botanical Gardens 2009

Plant Orchestra

Although imperceptible to the human ear, plants create sound. Using specialist microphones water can be heard as it flows slowly up the stem of a plant.  If trees are suffering from drought, scientists can measure acoustic emissions that occur caused by cavitation and embolism within the plant.  

The sounds created during the day are different to those at night and they alter with the seasons of the year. Amplifying the acoustic emissions of plants using dozens of special microphones we will reveal to the public this new and hidden acoustic world. 

Work in progress presented at Night Jar 

Cambridge Botanical Gardens have presented the first version of the Plant Orchestra. Hundreds of sound samples were recorded from dozens of plants within the glasshouses for the arts project. The best recordings were then played from their prospective plants as part of a light and sound installation presented for Night Jar. The sounds of the fish in the pond were amplified as well! Arriving at night the public navigated their way through the jungle area of the glasshouse by torch light. Small LEDs were used to highlight which plants were amplified.

Some of the public found being surrounded by plant noise in the darkness, slightly threatening. Most were fascinated and inspired to think about plants in a new way.

Read about in SEED Magazine.

Final Work

From rhythmic ‘pops’ to ‘gurgle’s' and ‘hisses’ these sounds will be fed into a large mixing desk and played out through speakers embedded in the landscape. Speakers positioned in the landscape will create a vast surround sound experience for the public. The public will be able to conduct this newly assembled orchestra for themselves by altering the levels and effects of the mixing desk.  

Performances 

Special performances where the Plant Orchestra is ‘conducted’ will be presented to the visiting public. Established composers will be invited to use the Plant Orchestra to compose and perform their own work.