It has been a complete delight to be part of the team working in the John Cage-inspired Proms Music Walk. And now there’s an opportunity to become a performer in the live version of the Music Walk on August 17th. Details can be found near the end of this post. I urge you to come along and take part.

There are just so many aspects of this project that are right up my street, combining digital audio, geolocation, walking, writing, audience participation and serendipity.

For a start there is the @johncagebot Twitter stream that churns out odd provocations and Cage-like microscores. This, for example:

The sound of many paper planes being made and thrown around a large room. #musicwalk

— John Cage Bot (@johncagebot) July 22, 2012

 Then there’s the series of compositions that you can listen to online, matching each track to a particular point of view near the Albert Hall. Better still you can  download the tracks for free from the website and take them out for a walk around South Kensington.

There’s even a  call to action that allows you to phone in your own sounds (the number is 020 3322 4687) and help to create new compositions that become part of the Music Walk.

And finally on 17th August there’s the opportunity for everyone to get together and take part in a choreographed Music Walk in South Kensington itself, with all ten composers taking part and the promise of surprising and slightly strange things happening along the way.

And that evening you might even get to take in the John Cage concert that’s going on  – with cactus-playing as my personal highlight. Cue John Cage playing a cactus!:

SIGN UP AS A PERFORMER

It’s really easy to sign up for this Music Walk and it’s free! Here are the details that creative director Tim Hopkins has sent me:

On the 17th August, the BBC Proms will be celebrating the centenary of composer John Cage’s birth with a special Prom at the Royal Albert Hall performing his music, preceded by a brand new Music Walk, when participants will be led around site specific locations in South Kensington and listen on headphones to new pieces commissioned specially from 10 fantastic contemporary composers.

We’re searching for volunteers to come and perform in choreographed Cage-inspired actions in some of the locations on the walk. You won’t need to play any musical instruments, and there will be a workshop in advance to find out more about the project and its context.

We’re searching for about 25 volunteer performers to join us to take part in performing in some of these locations, and you’ll need to be able to attend for the dates below.

Lunch will be provided on Tuesday 14th August, and we can offer all volunteer performers complimentary tickets to the evening performance of works by Cage as a thank you: 

Dates and timings you’d be needed:

Tuesday 14 August

10.00 – 12.00 Workshop with Tim Hopkins, Creative Director

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch

13.00 – 17.00 Rehearsal in situ

Friday 17 August

15.00 Call time for performers

18.00 – 19.00 PERFORMANCE of Cage Walk

19.45 Prom 47 – Cage Centenary

If you’re interested, please get in touch with Rhia at rhia.pratsis@bbc.co.uk and participants will be selected on a first-come-first-serve basis!

Thank you!