Smithsonian Folkways FW-33451-CCD Gateway Summer Sound- Abstracted Animal and Other Sounds, Smithsonian Folkways, Mfr#: FW-33451-CCD

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution the national museum of the United States. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation preservation and dissemination of sound. Folkways Records believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials Folkways Records seek to strengthen people s engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document "people s music " spoken word instruction and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987 and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity education increased understanding and lively engagement with the world of sound.

Inspired by Edgard Varèse s work using pre recorded sounds in music Ann McMillan manipulates animal noises with electronics. The Village Voice comments "[McMillan s] pieces deal with human vocal sounds insect sounds bird calls and water sounds but like all of McMillan s materials they are altered almost beyond recognition. It s a little like what happens to visual images when they get transformed into a Klee or a de Kooning."