Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Music specialist Dale McKay and the children of Bluestone School record her earthquake song".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Music specialist Dale McKay and the children of Bluestone School record her earthquake song".
A PDF copy of pages 302-303 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Outdoor Music Room'. Photos with permission from Greening the Rubble
Architecture and music have a long intertwining history.These respective creative forces many times have collaborated into monumental place, harboured rich occasion, been catalyst for cultural movement and defined generations. Together they transcend their respective identities. From dinky local church to monstrous national stadia, together they are an intense concentration, a powerfully addictive dosage where architecture is the place, music is the faith, and people are the reason. Music is a programme that architecture often celebrates in poetic and grand fashion; a superficial excuse to symbolise their creative parallels. But their relationship is much richer and holds more value than just the opportunity to attempt architectural metaphor.While music will always overshadow the architecture in the sense of a singular event, architecture is like the soundman behind the mixing desk. It’s not the star front and centre grabbing your attention, but is responsible for framing the star. It is the foundational backdrop, a critical pillar. Great architecture can help make great music. In this sense music is a communication of architecture, it is the ultimate creative function. Christchurch, New Zealand, is a city whose story changed in an instant. The seismic events of 2010 and 2011 have become the overriding subject of its historical narrative, as it will be for years to come. Disaster redefines place (the town of Napier, struck by an earthquake in 1931, exemplifies this). There is no quantifiable justification for an exploration of architecture and music within the context of Christchurch. The Town Hall, one of New Zealand’s most architecturally significant buildings, is under repair. The Christ Church Cathedral will more than likely be rebuilt to some degree of its former self. But these are echoes of the city that Christchurch was.They are saved because they are artefact. Evidence of history.This thesis makes the argument for the new, the better than before, and for the making of opportunity from disaster, by proposing a ‘new’ town hall, conceived from the sound of old.
One music CD entitled 'Te Huaki Puanaki presents Ōtautahi Christchurch Rise Up' featuring three songs in response to the 22 February 2011 earthquake. This music CD titled ‘Te Huaki Puanaki presents Ōtautahi Christchurch Rise Up’ symbolically records the changes, emotions and challenges faced by the people of Canterbury following the 2010-2011 e...
The combination of music and disaster has been the subject of much study, especially starstudded telethons and songs that commemorate tragedy. However, there are many other ways that music can be used after disaster that provide benefits far greater than money or memorials but are not necessarily as prominent in the worldwide media landscape. Beginning in September 2010, the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, has been struck by several major earthquakes and over 11,000 aftershocks, the most destructive of which caused 185 deaths. As with many other disasters, music has been used as a method of fundraising and commemoration, but personal experience suggests many other ways that music can be used as a coping mechanism and aid to personal and community recovery. Therefore, in order to uncover the connections, context, and strategies behind its use, this thesis addresses the question: Since the earthquakes began, how has popular music been beneficial for the city and people of Christchurch? As well as documenting a wide variety of musical ‘earthquake relief’ events and charitable releases, this research also explores some of the more intangible aspects of the music-aid relationship. Two central themes are presented – fundraising and psychosocial uses – utilising individual voices and case studies to illustrate the benefits of music use after disaster at a community or city-wide level. Together the disparate threads and story fragments weave a detailed picture of the ways in which music as shared experience, as text, as commodity, and as a tool for memory and movement has been incorporated into the fabric of the city during the recovery phase.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch. Brickwork has fallen from the gable ends of the building, collapsing the entryway.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch. Brickwork has fallen from the gable ends of the building, collapsing the entryway.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch. Brickwork has fallen from the gable ends of the building, collapsing the entryway.
A photograph of a stage and music set on the site of Illusions, an installation which is part of LUXCITY.
The score for the song 'Remember'. Lyrics by Naomi Ferguson and music by Naomi Ferguson and Alex van den Broek.
The lyrics of the song 'Remember'. Lyrics by Naomi Ferguson and music by Naomi Ferguson and Alex van den Broek.
Head of Music at Linwood College in Christchurch on status of school orchestra's European trip that was planned before earthquake.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Dane Sith rocks to the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Dane Sith rocks to the music during the Band Together concert for Canterbury at Hagley Park".
The exposed wall of a building on Colombo Street has been painted with a mural advertising Sedley Wells MusicWorks.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch. Leadlight windows are warped and broken, and bricks have fallen from the wall.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
Damage to the Christchurch School of Music building. The gable on the building has crumbled and bricks can be seen along the ground.
Damage to the Christchurch School of Music building. The gable on the building has crumbled and bricks can be seen along the ground.
Damage to the Christchurch School of Music building. The gable on the building has crumbled and bricks can be seen along the ground.
Damage to the Christchurch School of Music building. The gable on the building has crumbled and bricks can be seen along the ground.
Damage to the Christchurch School of Music building. The gable on the building has crumbled and bricks can be seen along the ground.
As part of the Canterbury Earthquake Digital Archive, this thesis documents the effects of the earthquakes on the musical life of Christchurch. It concentrates, primarily, on the classical music scene. The thesis examines the difficulties experienced by musical organisations, individual musicians, and teachers as they sought to bring music to the broken city, together with the measures that were necessary in order to overcome those difficulties. It examines how those organisations have worked to re-establish themselves in their particular musical fields. It charts the progress made, to date, along the path to recovery and offers suggestions regarding precautionary measures which, if instituted, could reduce the after-effects of a future disaster. Recognising that not all of the difficulties encountered were directly related to the earthquakes, this thesis also examines the effects on music and musicians, of decision making associated with the recovery effort. The thesis also demonstrates how a destructive event can provide the inspiration for creativity. It recognises the importance of music in maintaining a sense of normality for people, whether they realise it or not, as well as its influences in providing emotional relief in times of stress. Hopefully, it may become a useful guide to which other cities that may be faced with some natural disaster, could refer.
An audio recording of the song 'Remember'. Lyrics by Naomi Ferguson and music by Naomi Ferguson and Alex van den Broek.
The popular bar, restaurant and music venue was a fixture of the city's Arts Centre for decades before the 2011 earthquake.
Tarpaulins and plywood that have been used to weather proof a gap in one of the gables of the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street.
Damage to the Music Centre of Christchurch building on Barbadoes Street. Tarpaulins have been used to weather proof gaps in the building's gables from where masonry has fallen.