Choreosync 1: Salmon

Many years ago, Shawn and I were driving around Vancouver, listening to music. I don’t even remember what the song was…. just something with a heavy, foot-stomping beat. As we drove along Broadway, we realized that a particular pedestrian (far in the distance) was walking in time with the music, even though they couldn’t possibly hear it. This moment of perfect choreography lasted long enough for both of us to see it, and Shawn yelled out ‘CHOREOSYNC’! Thus, a new word was created…

Choreosync

[kohr-ee-uh-singk]

(noun) the aptitude for an unrelated motion and a musical phrase to match, for only a fleeting moment, in complete harmony and rhythm.

For a little while now, we’ve been playing around with the idea of using non-human patterns in nature to inspire music, and putting them together with video to capture snippets of choreosync.  Here’s the first such snippet, which we filmed at the Puntledge Fish Hatchery in the Comox Valley during the autumn salmon run.

Quick explanation: When the fishes’ noses* cross the left side of the frame, they hit a polyphonic scale, so their depth in the water and patterns of motion are creating the melody of the song.

What do you think? Do you like the fish nose song? What elements in nature do you think might work to inspire further harmonies and melodies?

*say that five times fast, I dare ya!