New organ will be played by the sea

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Friday 14th Jun 2002.

HEAR the sound of the sea on Blackpool Promenade this September with the arrival of the High Tide Organ.

The latest seaside sculpture to join the controversial Desire and other works on the front comes from a company called Art Department in Manchester and will play music at high tide using air pressure from the sea swell.

The 50ft tall sculpture made from concrete, steel, zinc and copper sheet will cost £80,000 and the Art Department say it will be "the musical manifestation of the sea, harnessing its natural forces to create a musical sculpture.

"Hydraulics, civil and structural engineering, acoustics, musical composition and sculpture combine to provide a public art work which will demonstrate scientific principles and provide a musical accompaniment to the high tide."

Eight pipes will go under South Shore Promenade next to the Sandcastle and fan out into the sea to feed air into the sculpture which can be fine-tuned through valves attached to the pipes which can be adjusted in accordance with pressure levels.

Artist Liam Curtin of the Art Department has received an award of £65,000 to develop the work from NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).

He said: "As the sea first laps up against the sea wall a few short peeps will herald the high tide. Gradually the notes will become longer in duration until the point of high tide a continuous rhythmic crescendo will be heard.

"On stormy days the performance is wild and frenzied and on calm days the sound is softer. It will be an ambient musical effect and not a popular melody. People will be able to jam along with the high tide!"

Liam and his team hope to construct, install and fine-tune the organ by September.

NESTA chief executive Jeremy Newton said: "We're supporting this unique project as it embraces a number of different disciplines which have collaborated to create an art work that is truly innovative and which could set new standards in public art.

"We hope the High Tide Organ may become a top attraction in Blackpool and become a famous landmark in the region."

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