Please note: This workshop is for women (cis and trans) and gender-diverse people only, and participants must be 18+

Experiment and create with the unique sounds of an electronic music trailblazer, in this free workshop for women and gender-diverse people.

YSWN (https://yorkshiresoundwomen.com/) and the Daphne Oram Trust (https://www.daphneoram.org/) invite you to make music using the recorded legacy of pioneering electronic composer Daphne Oram (1925-2003). To celebrate last year’s centenary of her birth, the Daphne Oram Trust have curated a special sample pack of sounds taken from archive tapes in her own collection.

Recorded between 1956-1974, these recordings of Oram’s music, sound design and own spoken words come from a period of great innovation, in which she co-founded the BBC Radiophonic Workshop before leaving in frustration to set up Tower Folly, the first electronic music studio founded by a woman. There, she created music for films and adverts and worked on bringing to life her Oramics machine, a groundbreaking optical synthesiser. The samples were recently reimagined by artists including Cosey Fanni Tutti, Nwando Ebizie and Lola de la Mata for the album var/iations: Ode to Oram (https://nonclassical.bandcamp.com/album/vari-ations-ode-to-oram) – and now it’s your turn!

Join artist and musician Sophie Cooper (https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsophiecoopermusic.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CR.Hughes%40hud.ac.uk%7Ca12d7eb0769a41491ec808df1e247000%7Cb52e9fda06914585bdfc5ccae1ce1890%7C0%7C0%7C639262815580887955%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZZcUjTGtbbB849yTUSClsabmxTjXnM3Wf2QskXqxTlg%3D&reserved=0) as we explore the sample pack and experiment with its sounds to improvise a new collective piece. Open to music-makers of any experience level or none, this workshop is a friendly and fun session where the unique sounds from Oram’s imagination will open doors to your own creativity.

All equipment will be provided, but if you do have any electronic music-making kit (such as samplers, controllers or effects pedals) of your own, feel free to bring it along.

For queries related to any of our Learning & Participation events or to discuss your visit further, please contact Nathan Bragg-Beck at N.Bragg-Beck@hud.ac.uk

Co-produced by hcmf// and Yorkshire Sound Women Network

About Yorkshire Sound Women Network (YSWN)

YSWN was founded in 2015 by women working in the sound technology industry who wanted to use their skills and influence to address gender and racial inequality. Their mission is to support a flourishing industry which welcomes, encourages and progresses the inclusion of women and gender-diverse people at all levels from studio floor to board room, and reflects the diversity of its participating communities.

YSWN enables the artistic and technical development of women, girls and gender-diverse people through access to resources, skills sharing, and collaborative opportunities. Through its network YSWN provides strong, skilled and professional role models who actively encourage participants to be inspired by and develop skills in sound and music digital technology. Their meetings and events are open to all women (cis and trans) and non-binary, agender and gender variant people. Men are welcome to support the network in other ways (https://yorkshiresoundwomen.com/support-us/).

Photo: Daphne Oram and the Oramics Machine by Fred Wood © Daphne Oram Trust. Image provided by Special Collections & Archives, Goldsmiths University of London with permission from the Daphne Oram Trust.

Description supplied by the event organiser.