Performances immersed in or interacted with unique environmental contexts

Abstract

By selecting the 100 soundscapes in 1996 and coordinating follow-up events in 2002, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan drew the attention to rediscover and preserve unique sounds across the country. The diverse soundcapes are associated with wildlife, natural phenomena, or man-made sounds from industrial or cultural activities. In addition to appreciating the sound events, performances at outdoor Noh stages in Japan were immersed in unique environmental context historically. Bird chirping, wind blowing, and sea tide may all become the context of the play. Similar situation could be found for historical plays of Chinese operas at the stage integrated with a Chinese garden. There are modern facilities or events designed to immersed in or interacted with natural or man-made context. Some take advantage of unique acoustic effect such as echoes in valleys while the others create focus by isolating ambient disturbances and integrating soundscapes with visual, functional, or other forms of environmental qualities.