I think this art installation, which has spent time in Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Art Museum (among many other places), is brilliant: <www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/janet-cardiff-forty-part-motet/>. (Be sure to watch the video on that page.)
I could imagine doing the same thing with small instrumental ensembles, as well, pairing the loudspeaker with a video screen showing the player while playing the music being heard. This might be an interesting and engaging way to illustrate what a musician does--perhaps as a tool for recruitment of future musicians. Such an installation could even travel to schools. As an entertainment, it might be fun for people who have not spent much time intimate with music. As an actual educational tool, it might help "civilians" to understand music on a deeper level.
Oh--for additional fun I might enhance that: Two screens, back to back, and the ensemble arranged as it might actually be on stage. One screen shows the musician playing the part, and the other shows what the musician is seeing: conductor (where applicable), music on stand, backs of the heads of the players in front of this one, even audience in hall. Etc. (Some small ensembles don't have conductors, and play in different physical arrangements.) Full binaural sound would be nice, although a good experience might be difficult in this context.
This music is wonderful; several performances are on Youtube: "40-part motet".
And this is yet another reason why I should be pretty bent if some ill-considered (and highly profitable?) human activity were to result in our extinction. I can deal with the fact that I won't be around to see what a Tallis motet might sound like when sung a hundred years hence, but if the answer is "nothing, because there isn't anyone here to sing it or hear it", I shall be quite irate indeed.
Mark_
16 February 2017
