Released today in partnership with Biophonica, The Listening Planet and distributed by Platoon, Fragile Worlds includes five unique soundscapes created by Academy composers. The Academy was granted unprecedented access to The Listening Planet founder Martyn Stewart’s vast collection of recordings: over 30,000 hours of nature sounds and soundscapes, with more than 97,000 individual sounds collected over the course of 55 years. Academy composition students responded musically to these sounds, weaving in their own intimate stories and unique perspectives on our planet.
The electroacoustic creations included in Fragile Worlds engage with the themes of beauty, diversity and fragility. They cover a range of topics, nature and a vast global footprint. The pieces reveal how sound can be used to better understand the natural world around us, as well as the role we play in shaping and protecting it. From personal memories of Vietnam and its birdsong to folk music incorporating recordings of a sperm whale, the music in this recording provides a soundtrack with an array of perspectives on the sounds in the collection.
Through working with The Listening Planet and Biophonica, the Academy can use the power of music to become an advocate for the natural world. Building upon this, the Academy today announces that this will continue via a long-term partnership. In addition to future student collaborations, the Academy will also develop opportunities for staff to engage with the sound collection and undertake timely and world-leading collaborative research projects which draw upon The Listening Planet’s archive and advocacy work.
'This album, taking inspiration from The Listening Planet archive, has been a unique opportunity for our students to create new work in a fresh and original way. I look forward to future collaborations between the composition department and The Listening Planet at such a critical time for the natural world.'
Philip Cashian, Head of Composition
'I have spent much of my life working alone to record nature voice. To now be able to collaborate with the Royal Academy of Music and these talented artists to bring nature’s voice to people through this album is incredibly meaningful and personal. I hope that through these projects we can awaken something in the listeners that will make them want to protect this place we call home.'
Martyn Stewart, Founder of The Listening Planet and Biophonica