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Open Music Archive initiated by artists Eileen Simpson & Ben White, is a collaborative project to source, digitise, and distribute out of copyright music recordings.
Open Music Archive Projects is a forum for related projects.
Struggle in Jerash - Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF)
Screening of Struggle in Jerash - a film by Eileen Simpson and Ben White June 30, 2010 Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF) |
Berlin Documentary Forum
We're contributing to: Berlin Documentary Forum # 1 02.06.2010 - 06.06.2010 Haus der Kulturen der Welt The BERLIN DOCUMENTARY FORUM is a new programmatic initiative at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. It is an interdisciplinary festival showcasing visual, audiovisual and performative works from all over the world. It is also the first festival to stage a forum that debates the contemporary documentary as a politically committed form of representation. Curator Eduardo Thomas presents a selection of contemporary experimental documentaries – all shown as German premieres. The program brings together films recently made in South America, the Middle East and Asia. The discussions with the filmmakers depart from previously dominant notions such as ‘authorship’, ‘authority’ and ‘authenticity’. "Struggle In Jerash" with Eduardo Thomas, Eileen Simpson, and Ben White |
PARADE: public modes of assembly and forms of address
We are contributing to PARADE: public modes of assembly and forms of address Friday 21 may Saturday 22 May Sunday 23 may Parade is at: |
LOOP Barcelona
Struggle in Jerash is showing as part of LOOP Barcelona HOTEL CATALONIA RABMLAS Saturday the 22nd of May London Seen will be launched at this year’s edition of LOOP and functions as an exploration into moving-image practices on London’s contemporary art scene; prolific in exhibition formats, interactions and challenges to conventional circuits. The project brings to Barcelona platforms and exhibition spaces which reflect innovative engagement with and display of video and film. Gathering different types of sites for display, production, distribution and/or archiving of moving-image works, London Seen project aims to generate a reflection around the specific treatment of video and film, by bringing together the participant’s practices and trajectories. |
Parallel Anthology - 17th Biennale of Sydney
Superdeluxe@Artspace Saturday, 15 May Join Eileen Simpson and Ben White for an evening of free music launching their Parallel Anthology project inspired by musicologist and artist Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music. Simpson and White have collected parallel public domain versions of the anthology recordings not closed down by copyright; from non-attributed folk versions, to commercial recordings whose proprietary interests have expired. The evening will feature a free CD giveaway and a DJ set featuring Parallel Anthology tracks, recordings from their Open Music Archive and new copyleft remixes, covers and versions made with a range of collaborators. We're also contributing to the Opening Week Forum: Saturday 15 May
Session II : 1 pm Dr Gerald McMaster, Eileen Simpson and Ben White, Megan Tamati-Quennell Domain Theatre, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney |
The Brilliant and The Dark - The Women's Library
We are contributing to Out of the Archives exhibition at: The Women's Library 12 May - 2 October 2010 The Women's Library exhibitions are open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm, with a late evening opening on Thursday until 8.00pm. curated by Anna Colin |
Struggle In Jerash - Gasworks London
I Want to See / Struggle in Jerash Gasworks 16th April 2010 - 30th May 2010 As the first Jordanian audio-visual works begin to fall into the public domain, a constellation of interests are translating, drafting and revising copyrights laws, trade agreements and licences to control the flow of culture and build new markets. Against the backdrop of these emerging intellectual property markets, in 2008 artists Eileen Simpson and Ben White embarked on a period of research in Amman, Jordan – speaking to lawyers, copyright activists, software developers, artists, musicians, journalists, curators, film makers and critics – in an attempt to seek out the common cultural resources of Jordan’s public domain. The result is Struggle In Jerash – a project convened around a lost 1957 Jordanian feature film of the same name, which fell out-of-copyright the year of the artists’ residency, and is used as a catalyst to explore value and meaning in archival material. |
Ambulante Documentary Film Festival, Mexico
Struggle In Jerash has been selected to be screened as part of Ambulante Documentary Film Festival 2010 The festival tours to Mexico City, Metepec - Toluca, Cuernavaca, Leon, Puebla, Morelia, San Cristobal, Oaxaca, Monterrey, Tijuana, Xalapa and Guadalajara between Feb 12 - May 6 Panel discussion: "Copyright, intellectual property and public goods" Screening with Q&A session Open Music Archive DJ set More info other screening times Injerto programme curated by Eduardo Thomas Read more about Struggle In Jerash at Catalogue Magazine |
Free/Slow University of Warsaw
11th December 2009 Eileen and Ben will talk about Open Music Archive as part of OUR WAY, BY THE WAY NEW STRATEGIES FOR CULTURE followed by an out-of-copyright/copyleft DJ set at Wspaniały Nowy Świat (former Nowy Świat cafe), ul. Nowy Świat 63 Warsaw Conference "Our Way, by the Way. New Strategies for Culture" took place in the Warsaw University Library between the 11th and the 13th of December 2009. Lectures and discussions were dedicated to the issues of alternative strategies for independent culture and its possible transformations |
Ghost Trace Stellar
Friday 17th July 2009 Ghost Trace Stellar Organised by Polytechnic & Kate Sweeney. Part of the Polytechnic ecologies programme We're working with Polytechnic to develop an evening of free music at Star and Shadow, an open volunteer-run social space and Cinema in Newcastle. We're inviting bands, musicians, producers and DJs to perform covers, versions, remixes or interpretations of the 1920s and 30s out-of-copyright folk, blues, and jazz from the Open Music Archive. A series of live plugged and unplugged performances will be recorded and licensed under Creative Commons ShareAlike, generating a new resource - free for use and reuse in the future. The event opens up a temporary channel for music, exchange and discussion that operates beyond individual proprietary and commercial interests. |
The General and the Specific
7th March 2009 3-6pm Gasworks |
Felix's Machines
Friday 19 December 2008 Gasworks FREE ENTRY Eileen Simpson and Ben White (Open Music Archive) play a DJ set featuring out-of-copyright clips, blips and loops sampled from 19th Century music boxes, player pianos and other automated music machines. This is followed by a performance of new compositions made in collaboration with Felix Thorn for Felix's Machines, and assembled from out-of-copyright material for the player piano. FREE GIFT: a copyleft licensed CD featuring the new compositions and source files will be given away on the night. Map: download a PDF |
Open Music Archive Outlet, London
22nd November - 14th December 2008 Artists Eileen Simpson and Ben White set up the first temporary outlet for their Open Music Archive. Distributing direct to the public, the outlet makes available the out-of-copyright and copyleft material from the archive on CDs, CDRs, and vinyl. Featuring new live recordings from Serafina Steer, Hest, Magic Arm, Sisters of Transistors, Per Ahlund and Mathias Josefson (Fylkingen), MC Strategy (Broke 'n' English); studio recordings by Homelife Duo, Liz Green, Sundowner; clips, blips and loops sampled mechanical music boxes; and 1920s and 30s archive source recordings by Leroy Carr, Virginia Liston, Cleo Brown and Honey Hill and more. . . Visitors to the outlet can browse, listen and take away the music. The CDs and records are available in exchange for a suggested donation and all material is out-of-copyright or copyleft - free for use and reuse in the future. The outlet is set up in collaboration with designer Ismini Adami. |
This is not a gateway
Open Music Archive DJ set at: This is not a gateway festival launch FREE ENTRY |
Free-to-air CD
Free-to-Air CD containing 14 copyleft covers, versions and remixes of the out-of-copyright archive jazz / blues / music hall & folk from the Open Music Archive. Featuring Magic Arm, Homelife, Sisters of Transistors and more.... Send a donation of £5 and we'll post you a copy of the CD |
Nought To Sixty, ICA
Monday 29 September 2008 8 - 10 pm Institute of Contemporary Arts out-of-copyright archive jazz / blues / music hall & folk part of Nought to Sixty curated by Mark Sladen and Richard Birkett |
Loose Booty, Zurich
Loose Booty at K3 - Project Space opening 27th September with Open Music Archive DJ set 7pm till late |
Disclosures II: The Middle Ages, Laxton
Saturday 6 September 2008 For Disclosures II, Eileen Simpson and Ben White (Open Music Archive) use Declose, the vinyl battle tool created for Disclosures I, to make music for a party in the barn. Declose is a copyleft licensed 12" vinyl scratch tool containing a range of samples, beats and extracts made from out of copyright blues, jazz and folk housed in the Open Music Archive Declose was made in collaboration with music producers from the burntprogress community. Download the Declose record or request your free copy of the vinyl from: info@nottinghamcontemporary.org
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Freebooter, The London Festival of Architecture
FREEBOOTER: an evening of free music exploring public territory in a peninsula haunted by pirates and bootleggers. Saturday 28th June at: The Pilot Inn, 68 River Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 presenting reclaimed lost treasures: featuring: plus and Funktion-One sound system The Declose vinyl will be available on the night in exchange for a donation. part of The London Festival of Architecture Project Manager: Heidi Pedersen |
Photosocial, The Photographers' Gallery
Photosocial [4] See new photography with music, debate and diversion. The next in an ongoing series of bar nights will include a debate on The Amateur vs the Professional as well as a projection of Screen Tests by Neil Cummings, Marysia Lewandowska, Eileen Simpson and Ben White. Free, spaces limited, so come along early! |
Electronic Music Festival, Amman
Outdoor screening of Screen Tests, and Dragline with live musical accompaniment by Ben White. The music, which has been sourced from out-of-copyright early 20th Century 78rpm records will be manipulated in real-time. 100LIVE Electronic Music Festival 2008 Saturday, 17th May 08 at 4:00pm FREE ENTRANCE |
Research in Amman
We are learning about how intellectual property works in Jordan as part of an international fellowship organised by Gasworks. We have a studio here April-May 2008 |
Feedback 4 Book Launch, New York
Book Launch: Saturday 3 May 2008 5-7 pm Printed Matter 195 Tenth Avenue New York NY 10011 Contact: Nayia Yiakoumaki feedbackATfeedbackprojectDOTnet |
Disclosures, London
For Disclosures Eileen Simpson & Ben White create Declose, a project to create a copyleft licensed 12" vinyl scratch tool containing a range of samples, beats and extracts made from the out-of-copyright blues, jazz and folk housed in the Open Music Archive. The artists promote collaboration and seek to explore its significance and value for creative production. For Declose they invite producers and members of the burntprogress community to create new remix tracks, short vocal snippets, percussive noises, samples, breaks and beats - made entirely from the out-of-copyright music in the Open Music Archive - to make up the battle vinyl. Declose Launch Event: Featuring scratch routines, live experiments and improvisation using the Declose vinyl by: Collection Society FREE ENTRY The Declose vinyl will be available on the night in exchange for a donation. |
Clips, Blips and Loops #2, Geneva
For Clips, Blips and Loops #2, we are inviting producers, musicians and DJs to contribute to the collection of free source tools available here. This is an extension of a project developed in Stockholm, November 2007. In February 2008 all of the tools will be gathered together to produce a CD that will be freely distributed at a public performance at an event in Geneva on 13th March. |
Mimétisme at Extra City, Antwerp
Mimétisme Screen Tests, in collaboration with Neil Cummings & Marysia Lewandowska, will be part of Mimétisme at Extra City in Antwerp. An exhibition that probes an alternative conceptual framework for "theatricality" in the visual arts. visit Extra City or download an exhibition guide.pdf guided tours with curator Anselm Franke: |
Loose Booty, London
Loose Booty Alexandre Bianchini, Jeff McMillan, Sylvie Rodriguez, Pascal Rousson, Guy Sherwin, Eileen Simpson and Ben White For Loose Booty, a new exhibition by Pearl Projects, Eileen Simpson & Ben White have brought together a number of different cover versions of Pinetop's Boogie Woogie, originally written by Clarence "Pinetop" Smith of Chicago (d. 1929). The various out-of-copyright versions, including those by Bing Crosby and Honey Hill, and a new track made entirely from the out-of-copyright elements, are to be burned on CDs and given away for free at the exhibition as a way of disseminating materials that are in the public domain. Vegas Gallery After Party - featuring Open Music Archive out-of-copyright/copyleft laptop and DJ set Downloads here STOP.MOVE Track 2 Track 3 Track 4 Track 5 Track 6
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Screen Tests - The Bigger Picture, Manchester
See Screen Tests and Broadcast Times on The Big Screen Manchester from 12th Jan - 1st Feb 2008. Screen Tests - Neil Cummings, Marysia Lewandowska, Eileen Simpson, Ben White Broadcast Times - Neil Cummings, Marysia Lewandowska, Eileen Simpson, Ben White |
Who Makes And Owns Your Work, Stockholm
Time: 17 November 2007 12.00 - 01.00 In an attempt to cross the boundaries of idea and practice, Iaspis and Konstfack initiated a project on production, distribution and ownership of cultural matter and artistic knowledge starting in December 2006. On 17th November 2007 the project will open itself up by letting the gathered knowledge be combined with that of invited guests, in an event aiming at an in-depth look on the making and owning of contemporary culture. |
Feedback #4
We contributed to Feedback #4 Ideas that inform, construct and concern the production of exhibitions and events. Edited by Elpida Karaba & Nayia Yiakoumaki |
Free-to-air (Cornerhouse, Manchester)
From 15-25th July 2007 Open Music Archive will be resident at Cornerhouse, Manchester's international centre for contemporary arts. For two weeks Eileen Simpson & Ben White will be producing a series of live events and programmes for a temporary FM radio station broadcasting across Manchester. (106.5FM artradio.fm) We're inviting bands and musicians to respond to the rare out-of-copyright folk, blues, and jazz from the Open Music Archive; to work with forgotten lyrics, chords, melodies and beats, and to make new cover versions of forgotten tracks. For two weeks the gallery will host live plugged and unplugged performances and one-off broadcasts by Manchester's finest upcoming and established bands and musicians. |
Long Night - Cornerhouse, Manchester
Long Night 13/07/07 As an introduction to the Free-to-air project, Eileen Simpson & Ben White invited guest DJs Jon K (Eyes Down/Fat City) and Upstate Rockers to explore sampling, reworking and exchange via the cover version - from Reggae Elvis and a Dubstep Prince, to a kid's cover of Slade via Detroit HipHop. Both DJs presented special sets made entirely from cover versions, bootlegs and mash ups. More info |
If Elsewhere - Scatter Projects
Simpson & White will present a DJ set featuring out-of-copyright material from the archive, live electronic remixes, and a sneak preview of cover versions of out-of-copyright blues, folk, music hall and jazz recorded by a range bands for their upcoming project Free-to-air - part of ARTRADIO at Cornerhouse, Manchester in July '07. Scatterprojects The Media Centre More info on the Scatter Projects page. |
Screen Tests at Varsalongen, Stockholm
26 Jan 2007 - 18 Mar 2007 Screen Tests will be shown as part of the annual Varsalongen [Spring Salon] exhibition, curated by Maria Lind and Leira Vergara in Liljevalch's Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden See the Varsalongen website or visit the exhibition at Liljevalch's Konsthall, Djurgardsvagen 60, Stockholm, Sweden. |
Canal Plus
Eileen Simpson and Ben White were invited to play a selection of out-of-copyright early blues, jazz and folk recordings from the archive alongside copyleft licensed electronic remixes at: Canal Plus at Vilma Gold: Films, performance, music |