'The Mute Still Air' by musician Ed Carter has been nominated for an Art Sound Ivors Composers award.

The site-specific, sculptural sound installation involved Grimethorpe Colliery Band alongside electronically controlled fans and copper wind chimes which reflects on the significance of social responsibility within a brutal commercial industry.

Inspiration

It takes inspiration from the cultural impact of Benjamin Biram's pioneering engineering work at the Elsecar coal mine in South Yorkshire.

Speaking about the project and award, Ed Carter told 4BR: "It was fantastic working with Grimethorpe Colliery Band on 'The Mute Still Air'.

They are such an extraordinary group of musicians, and their positive approach to the project made the whole experience an absolute pleasure."

Thrilled

In response, Band Manager Richard Windle said: "We're absolutely thrilled that Ed has been nominated for this award.

It was a project that the band loved being a part of and demonstrates the kind of collaboration that will be at the centre of the band's future commitment to commissioning works from the very best composers working today."

Fresh air

Biram pioneering work saw him introduce many safety improvements, including a new safety lamp, an anemometer to monitor airflow, and giant mechanical fans to ventilate the mines.

The constant breeze from the fans reassured those working underground, mindful that it was providing fresh air and preventing the lethal build-up of explosive gases.

The Mute Still Air takes its name from a line in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, 'The Eolian Harp', written the same year that Elsecar New Colliery was sunk in 1795.

They are such an extraordinary group of musicians, and their positive approach to the project made the whole experience an absolute pleasurecomposer, Ed Carter

Greek God

The poem describes the sound of a wind harp, which is named after the Greek god Aeolus, who reputedly kept the wind in an underground cave.

The work was commissioned and produced by BEAM for the Wentworth & Elsecar Great Place project.

Enjoy

The performance can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/697390126?embedded=true&source=video_title&owner=2066008