A Little Bridge Music, Poughkeepsie, NY

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 Bridge Music, Bertolozzi

I first heard about Joseph Bertolozzi’s Bridge Music project from a friend at Toronto’s Jet Fuel Coffee a couple of years ago, and immediately my imagination was seized with curiosity. So much of what I heard described about turning a bridge into a massive, musical instrument for the general public to enjoy – not to mention the audacity of such an undertaking – resonated with for me with my fledgling Urban Flute Project, and I simply had to go. During a lull in the Tanglewood festivities and after driving 4 hours west from Boston, nothing could prepare me for the real experience of walking out on the Mid-Hudson Bridge and exploring this amazing musical creation.

Having finally arriving in the Poughkeepsie area, there was no problem locating this massive suspension bridge that spans the Hudson River. The real challenge, as it turned out, was to find the musical installation! Like Torontonians perhaps taking the CN Towerfor granted, most locals I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about, or only a vague idea as to how to get ‘there’ and listen to  the bridge! Finally, after an hour of crossing the bridge a couple of times, I ended up in the right little parkette tucked in the shadow of the bridge on the west side of the Hudson, just north of the tollbooth – $1 US to drive across: ouch! 

After a bridge traffic prelude, here is a colourful sampler of Bertolozzi’s captivating musical creations assembled from the sounds that he sampled from the bridge – the range of textures and musical styles is simply astonishing! Alternatively, if you have a fancy shortwave radio or find yourself in the Poughkeepsie area, this bridge music plays 24/7 at 95.3 on your FM dial. Or better yet? Walk out on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge  (The Mid-Hudson Bridge) and experience this unique music for yourself!

For directions t0 the Poughkeepsie Bridge click here.