Hans Ulrich Werner

is SoundDesigner and Radioproducer at Studio für Klangdesign Radio and Television at WDR in Koeln, and Author of publications "SOUNDSCAPES" (1992) and "SOUNDSCAPESIGN" (1997). Recent projects include sound images and sound reportages about cities like New York, Chicago, Vancouver, Madrid, Lisboa and La Palma. And maybe Istambul. Just finished the soundtrack for a silent film, that a German journalist produced about Chicagos "hard times" in 1930ies depression. The sounds from today meet the black and white pictures of then and create a space in between: virtual audio.

About SOUNDSCAPES:

Soundscape is a concept that the Canadian composer Murray Schafer created in the 70ies: he widened the ears not only for music but for everyday sound of all kind.

Soundscape means Acoustic Landscape, aural identity of the space we live in or travel to. As a complimentary approach to vision, he speaks of keynotes, sound signals and sound marks in the everyday situation: daily life, nature sounds, electronic networks have all a voice of their own and they change and move like a musical composition. And each piece, each place, every city, every street has an own sound and rhythm.

Schafer taught music and educated students and scientists and artists of all camps of life for what he called earcleaning, open ears, imaginative listening and training.

He proposed the approach of Acoustic Design: not to throw any sound into the world without reflection and plan, but to design carefully new sounds and preserve traditional sounds, that are pleasant and rich for the listeners. The overall concept is called Acoustic Ecology, interpreting the world around us through sound.

During the last years Schafers ideas have spread out and are developped by composers like Hildegard Westerkamp, Barry Truax and Claude Schryer in Canada, as well as there are many European artists and researchers being influenced.

Soundscape Compositions are related and different enough from computer music and electroacoustic tradition of musique concrete: the composers often try to integrate an environmental theme, or message or feeling, into their works.

Soundscape composition is both artistically challenging and a subtle listening training.