BRIDGE MUSIC OPENS 15TH SEASON
Listening Stations Located Along Mid-Hudson Bridge Sidewalk, Open April through October/Park Radios operate 365/24/7 on 95.3FMwww.bridgemusic.info
Highland, N.Y. – Joseph Bertolozzi’s Bridge Music, a unique sound-art installation featuring the Mid-Hudson Bridge itself as the instrument, is marking 15 years since its original debut. The public is invited to access the music via the listening stations, located along the bridge’s pedestrian walkway, which were reopened on April 1 and are available through the end of October. Bridge Music was originally released in 2009, during the year of the Henry Hudson Quadricentennial celebrations.
Bridge Music contains no other tones than those of the bridge itself, created by sampling the sounds of the bridge’s surfaces (guard rails, girders, etc.) with various mallets. It is a sister project with Bertolozzi’s Tower Music, created on the Eiffel Tower in 2016.
Composer Joseph Bertolozzi said, “It’s hard to believe Bridge Music has been in operation since 2009. We have reanimated the audio experience with the addition of brand new speakers last year for a fresh, crisp new sound. I think listeners will appreciate encountering this new audio adventure along with the river views from the Mid-Hudson Bridge.”
Executive Director of the New York State Bridge Authority Dr. Minosca Alcantara said, “Bridge Music has been a beloved feature of the Mid-Hudson Bridge since it debuted in 2009. Thanks to Joseph Bertolozzi’s creativity, the Mid-Hudson Bridge became not just an important piece of infrastructure, but also one of the largest ‘musical instruments’ in the world. We look forward to the next 15 years of this special sound art installation and encourage everyone to visit the Mid-Hudson to enjoy it.”
Listening Stations are located on the bridge’s towers. The Mid-Hudson Bridge’s pedestrian walkway can be accessed on the Poughkeepsie side from Gerald Drive (off Rinaldi Boulevard) and on the Highland side from Johnson-Iorio Park on Haviland Road. Street signs are also located near the bridge to direct patrons to the listening stations.
In addition, a 24/7 radio broadcast transmits on 95.3FM from the parks flanking the bridge (Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie and Johnson-Iorio Park in Highland).