BBCレディオフォニック・ワークショップ 『BBC Radiophonic Workshop - A Retrospective』
2019.07.25
BBCレディオフォニック・ワークショップ
『BBC Radiophonic Workshop - A Retrospective』2008年作品
80年以上の歴史を誇る、ロンドンのBBCメイダ・ヴェイル・スタジオと言えば、BBC交響楽団の拠点であり、BBCラジオの伝説的セッションの数々が録音された英国の文化的ランドマークだ。1958年から40年にわたってその一角にラボを構えていたのが、BBCレディオフォニック・ワークショップ。日々奇妙な実験を重ねて、BBCのラジオとテレビの番組で使われる特殊効果音やテーマ音楽を制作していたセクションである。本作『BBC Radiophonic Workshop−A Retrospective』(2008年)には、ここで生まれた長短合わせて100以上の音源を、年代順に2枚のCDに収録。監修者であるコンポーザーのマーク・エアズは、ワークショップが閉鎖された際にアーカイヴ化を担当し、スタジオに保存されていた3,500本に及ぶアナログ・テープをデジタル・リマスターするという、気が遠くなるような作業に取り掛かったそうだが、果たしてそれが完了したのか否か、調べてはみたものの定かではない。
彼が本作に寄せたライナーノーツなどによると、設立当初のワークショップでは、生楽器の音、人間の声、ものを叩いたり擦ったりした音を録音し、スピードを調節するなど色んな加工をして切り貼りするという、ミュジーク・コンクレートに近い手法で必要とされるサウンドを作り出していたという。そして1970年代には、EMS社のVCS3を筆頭にシンセサイザーを続々導入。ふんだんな予算を割り当てられ、1980年代に入るとマッキントッシュ・コンピューターやら、デジタル・サンプラーを先駆けたフェアライトCMIやら、最新機材を片っ端から備えて、ヨーロッパで最も革新的な音楽制作・録音施設として知られていたそうだ。
本作にはそんな風に、テクノロジーの進化に寄り添って変化してきたワークショップの足跡がくっきりと刻まれている。ワイン・オープナーからビッグ・ベンの機械部分(!)まで出自の様々な初期の音源は、ドキドキ、ハラハラ、ワクワク、ビクビクといった気持ちの昂ぶりを、実に楽しく、分かりやすく表現。往々にしてコミカルですらあるのだが、当時流行していたポップ・ミュージックより音楽表現として遥かにアヴァンギャルドで、ピンク・フロイドのメンバーら若いミュージシャンたちが見学に訪れていたという話にも納得がゆく。その後シンセサイザーが導入されてからは、生楽器とミックスしてバンドぽいアプローチをとったりして、ロック界で起きていた動きを反映。プログレやアンビエント・ミュージックにも接近し、主に1980年代の音源を集めたCD2からは、フェアライトを使いまくったと思しき、さらに多様なスタイルが聴こえる。ジャズやフュージョンに傾いたり、シンフォニックに傾いたり、或いは、クラシックや民族音楽のメロディをエレクトロニックにアレンジしたり......。単に素晴らしいコンポーザーだっただけでなく、マニアックな技術的知識を備えたスタッフの有能さも、窺えるというものだ。
そのスタッフについてもうひとつ特筆すべき点があるとしたら、女性たちの貢献が挙げられるのではないかと思う。そもそもワークショップの産みの親のひとりは、女性として初めて独自のエレクトロニック・サウンド生成器(その名も「Oramics」)を発明し、コンポーザーとして長年活動するダフネ・オラムだったのだから。彼女は、第二次大戦中からBBCで一緒に働いていたエンジニアのデズモンド・ブリスコーと経営陣を説得し、ワークショップを設立。本作のオープニング曲「Amphitryon38」は、ダフネがワークショップで制作した現存する最も古いテレビ番組用の音源だ。初代のスタジオ・マネージャーを務めた彼女は結局1年ほどで辞めてしまうのだが、ほかにも、ケンブリッジ大学で数学と音楽を学んだ才媛で、ダフネと共にエレクトロニック・ミュージックのパイオニアと目されているデリア・ダービーシャーから、本作の終盤に収められた美しい曲群を手掛けたワークショップ最後のコンポーザー、エリザベス・パーカーに至るまで多くの女性が活躍。中でも、(多少アップデートされているが)現在も使われているSFドラマ『ドクター・フー』のテーマ音楽(1963年)を筆頭に、抜きん出た革新性やオリジナリティを誇るデリアの作品は、アルバムのハイライトと見て間違いない。なんでも彼女は、スタジオ技術者を志してデッカ・レコードを訪ねた際「女は雇わない」と門前払いを食らった体験があるといい、そういう意味でもワークショップは非常にラディカルな場所だったと言えるだろう。
しかし、1990年代には安価なデジタル機材が普及。同時にBBCの経費削減のために音楽制作の外注が奨励され、ワークショップの仕事はどんどん減ってしまう。そして98年に閉鎖の憂き目にあうのだが、その頃にはちょうどケミカル・ブラザーズにオービタルにポーティスヘッド......と、デリアたちの影響を公言し、そのスピリットを受け継ぐアーティストが音楽界を騒がせていた。バトンは抜かりなく、次の世代に手渡されていたのだ。
(新谷洋子)
【関連サイト】
『BBC Radiophonic Workshop Retrospective』収録曲
DISC:1
1. Amphitryon 38 (2008 Digital Remaster)/2. The Ocean (Main Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/3. Quatermass And The Pit (Effects) (2008 Digital Remaster)/4. Major Bloodnok s Stomach (2002 Digital Remaster)/5. Outside (2008 Digital Remaster)/6. Science And Industry (2008 Digital Remaster)/7. The Artist Speaks (2008 Digital Remaster)/8. The Splendour That Was Rome (2008 Digital Remaster)/9. TV March (2008 Digital Remaster)/10. Interval Signal (2008 Digital Remaster)/11. Phra The Phoenician (2008 Digital Remaster)/12. Full Circle - The Stick Up (2008 Digital Remaster)/13. Time Beat (2008 Digital Remaster)/14. Music For A Magic Carpet (2008 Digital Remaster)/15. Ideal Home Exhibition (2008 Digital Remaster)/16. Time On Our Hands (Titles and City Music) (2008 Digital Remaster)/17. Arabic Science And Industry (2008 Digital Remaster)/18. The Chem Lab Mystery (2008 Digital Remaster)/19. Know Your Car (Get Out And Get Under) (2008 Digital Remaster)/20. Dr Who (2008 Digital Remaster)/21. Tardis (2008 Digital Remaster)/22. Choice (2008 Digital Remaster)/23. Hard Luck Hall (2008 Digital Remaster)/24. Westminster At Work (2008 Digital Remaster)/25. Talk Out (2008 Digital Remaster)/26. Science And Health (2008 Digital Remaster)/27. Secrets Of The Chasm (2008 Digital Remaster)/28. The Slide (Opening) (2008 Digital Remaster)/29. A New View of Politics (2008 Digital Remaster)/30. Radio Stoke-On-Trent (1) (2008 Digital Remaster)/31. Radio Stoke-On-Trent (2) (2008 Digital Remaster)/32. Bobby Shaftoe (2008 Digital Remaster)/33. The Lambton Worm (2008 Digital Remaster)/34. Environmental Studies (2008 Digital Remaster)/35. Chronicle (2008 Digital Remaster)/36. Great Zoos Of The World (2008 Digital Remaster)/37. P.M. (1970) (2008 Digital Remaster)/38. Tros Y Gareg (Over The Stone) (2008 Digital Remaster)/39. Dance from "Noah" (2008 Digital Remaster)/40. Good Morning Wales (2008 Digital Remaster)/41. Sequence (2008 Digital Remaster)/42. Martian March Past (2008 Digital Remaster)/43. The Changes (Suite) (2008 Digital Remaster)/44. Thomas The Rhymer (2008 Digital Remaster)/45. Merry-Go-Round (2008 Digital Remaster)/46. Fanfare (2008 Digital Remaster)/47. BBC2 Serial (2008 Digital Remaster)/48. The Plunderers (2008 Digital Remaster)/49. The Secret War (2008 Digital Remaster)/50. Quirky (2008 Digital Remaster)/51. Newton (2008 Digital Remaster)/52. Contact (2008 Digital Remaster)/53. For Love Or Money (2008 Digital Remaster)/54. Mysterioso (2008 Digital Remaster)/55. The Astronauts (2008 Digital Remaster)/56. Moving Form (Main Theme From "The Body In Question") (2008 Digital Remaster)/57. A Whisper From Space (2008 Digital Remaster)/58. Land And People (2008 Digital Remaster)/59. Swirley (2008 Digital Remaster)/60. Greenwich Chorus (2008 Digital Remaster)/61. Hurdy Gurdy (2008 Digital Remaster)/62. P.M. (1978) (2008 Digital Remaster)/63. Broken Biscuit Club (2008 Digital Remaster)/64. The Unseeing Eye (2008 Digital Remaster)/65. The Milonga (2008 Digital Remaster)/66. Mainstream (2008 Digital Remaster)/67. Seascape (2008 Digital Remaster)/68. Yellow Moon (2008 Digital Remaster)
DISC:2
1. Brighton Pier (2008 Digital Remaster)/2. The Whale (2008 Digital Remaster)/3. Radio Blackburn (2008 Digital Remaster)/4. Lascaux (2008 Digital Remaster)/5. The Comet Is Coming (2008 Digital Remaster)/6. Macrocosm (2008 Digital Remaster)/7. Planet Earth (Scenes from "The Living Planet") (2008 Digital Remaster)/8. Catch the Wind (2008 Digital Remaster)/9. Fancy Fish ("Aquarium") (2008 Digital Remaster)/10. Houdin's Musical Box (2008 Digital Remaster)/11. Computers In The Real World (2008 Digital Remaster)/12. Believe It Or Not (2008 Digital Remaster)/13. Armagiddean War Games (2008 Digital Remaster)/14. Dawn (2008 Digital Remaster)/15. Ghost In The Water (2008 Digital Remaster)/16. Radiophonic Rock (2008 Digital Remaster)/17. Woman Of Paris (2008 Digital Remaster)/18. Dandelion Countdown (Pictures In Your Mind) (2008 Digital Remaster)/19. Heart of the Matter (2008 Digital Remaster)/20. Dead Entry (Opening Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/21. No Easy Road (2008 Digital Remaster)/22. Slambash Wangs Of A Compo Gormer (Titles And Space Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/23. The Great Rift (2008 Digital Remaster)/24. Kingdom Of The Thunder Dragon (Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/25. Archery And Cranes (2008 Digital Remaster)/26. Artwork (2008 Digital Remaster)/27. Jewel In The Sun (2008 Digital Remaster)/28. Techno (2008 Digital Remaster)/29. OK2 (You In Mind) (2008 Digital Remaster)/30. Doctors To Be (2008 Digital Remaster)/31. Secret Nature (Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/32. The Secret Of Life (Cracking The Code) (2008 Digital Remaster)/33. Salem's Lot (2008 Digital Remaster)/34. Music From "The Sea, The Sea" (2008 Digital Remaster)/35. Music from "The Demon Headmaster" (2008 Digital Remaster)/36. The Lost Gardens Of Heligan (2008 Digital Remaster)/37. Michael Palin's Full Circle (Main Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/38. Assignment (Kofi Annan) (2008 Digital Remaster)/39. Dance From "Noah" (Stereo Mix) (2008 Digital Remaster)
DISC:1
1. Amphitryon 38 (2008 Digital Remaster)/2. The Ocean (Main Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/3. Quatermass And The Pit (Effects) (2008 Digital Remaster)/4. Major Bloodnok s Stomach (2002 Digital Remaster)/5. Outside (2008 Digital Remaster)/6. Science And Industry (2008 Digital Remaster)/7. The Artist Speaks (2008 Digital Remaster)/8. The Splendour That Was Rome (2008 Digital Remaster)/9. TV March (2008 Digital Remaster)/10. Interval Signal (2008 Digital Remaster)/11. Phra The Phoenician (2008 Digital Remaster)/12. Full Circle - The Stick Up (2008 Digital Remaster)/13. Time Beat (2008 Digital Remaster)/14. Music For A Magic Carpet (2008 Digital Remaster)/15. Ideal Home Exhibition (2008 Digital Remaster)/16. Time On Our Hands (Titles and City Music) (2008 Digital Remaster)/17. Arabic Science And Industry (2008 Digital Remaster)/18. The Chem Lab Mystery (2008 Digital Remaster)/19. Know Your Car (Get Out And Get Under) (2008 Digital Remaster)/20. Dr Who (2008 Digital Remaster)/21. Tardis (2008 Digital Remaster)/22. Choice (2008 Digital Remaster)/23. Hard Luck Hall (2008 Digital Remaster)/24. Westminster At Work (2008 Digital Remaster)/25. Talk Out (2008 Digital Remaster)/26. Science And Health (2008 Digital Remaster)/27. Secrets Of The Chasm (2008 Digital Remaster)/28. The Slide (Opening) (2008 Digital Remaster)/29. A New View of Politics (2008 Digital Remaster)/30. Radio Stoke-On-Trent (1) (2008 Digital Remaster)/31. Radio Stoke-On-Trent (2) (2008 Digital Remaster)/32. Bobby Shaftoe (2008 Digital Remaster)/33. The Lambton Worm (2008 Digital Remaster)/34. Environmental Studies (2008 Digital Remaster)/35. Chronicle (2008 Digital Remaster)/36. Great Zoos Of The World (2008 Digital Remaster)/37. P.M. (1970) (2008 Digital Remaster)/38. Tros Y Gareg (Over The Stone) (2008 Digital Remaster)/39. Dance from "Noah" (2008 Digital Remaster)/40. Good Morning Wales (2008 Digital Remaster)/41. Sequence (2008 Digital Remaster)/42. Martian March Past (2008 Digital Remaster)/43. The Changes (Suite) (2008 Digital Remaster)/44. Thomas The Rhymer (2008 Digital Remaster)/45. Merry-Go-Round (2008 Digital Remaster)/46. Fanfare (2008 Digital Remaster)/47. BBC2 Serial (2008 Digital Remaster)/48. The Plunderers (2008 Digital Remaster)/49. The Secret War (2008 Digital Remaster)/50. Quirky (2008 Digital Remaster)/51. Newton (2008 Digital Remaster)/52. Contact (2008 Digital Remaster)/53. For Love Or Money (2008 Digital Remaster)/54. Mysterioso (2008 Digital Remaster)/55. The Astronauts (2008 Digital Remaster)/56. Moving Form (Main Theme From "The Body In Question") (2008 Digital Remaster)/57. A Whisper From Space (2008 Digital Remaster)/58. Land And People (2008 Digital Remaster)/59. Swirley (2008 Digital Remaster)/60. Greenwich Chorus (2008 Digital Remaster)/61. Hurdy Gurdy (2008 Digital Remaster)/62. P.M. (1978) (2008 Digital Remaster)/63. Broken Biscuit Club (2008 Digital Remaster)/64. The Unseeing Eye (2008 Digital Remaster)/65. The Milonga (2008 Digital Remaster)/66. Mainstream (2008 Digital Remaster)/67. Seascape (2008 Digital Remaster)/68. Yellow Moon (2008 Digital Remaster)
DISC:2
1. Brighton Pier (2008 Digital Remaster)/2. The Whale (2008 Digital Remaster)/3. Radio Blackburn (2008 Digital Remaster)/4. Lascaux (2008 Digital Remaster)/5. The Comet Is Coming (2008 Digital Remaster)/6. Macrocosm (2008 Digital Remaster)/7. Planet Earth (Scenes from "The Living Planet") (2008 Digital Remaster)/8. Catch the Wind (2008 Digital Remaster)/9. Fancy Fish ("Aquarium") (2008 Digital Remaster)/10. Houdin's Musical Box (2008 Digital Remaster)/11. Computers In The Real World (2008 Digital Remaster)/12. Believe It Or Not (2008 Digital Remaster)/13. Armagiddean War Games (2008 Digital Remaster)/14. Dawn (2008 Digital Remaster)/15. Ghost In The Water (2008 Digital Remaster)/16. Radiophonic Rock (2008 Digital Remaster)/17. Woman Of Paris (2008 Digital Remaster)/18. Dandelion Countdown (Pictures In Your Mind) (2008 Digital Remaster)/19. Heart of the Matter (2008 Digital Remaster)/20. Dead Entry (Opening Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/21. No Easy Road (2008 Digital Remaster)/22. Slambash Wangs Of A Compo Gormer (Titles And Space Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/23. The Great Rift (2008 Digital Remaster)/24. Kingdom Of The Thunder Dragon (Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/25. Archery And Cranes (2008 Digital Remaster)/26. Artwork (2008 Digital Remaster)/27. Jewel In The Sun (2008 Digital Remaster)/28. Techno (2008 Digital Remaster)/29. OK2 (You In Mind) (2008 Digital Remaster)/30. Doctors To Be (2008 Digital Remaster)/31. Secret Nature (Titles) (2008 Digital Remaster)/32. The Secret Of Life (Cracking The Code) (2008 Digital Remaster)/33. Salem's Lot (2008 Digital Remaster)/34. Music From "The Sea, The Sea" (2008 Digital Remaster)/35. Music from "The Demon Headmaster" (2008 Digital Remaster)/36. The Lost Gardens Of Heligan (2008 Digital Remaster)/37. Michael Palin's Full Circle (Main Theme) (2008 Digital Remaster)/38. Assignment (Kofi Annan) (2008 Digital Remaster)/39. Dance From "Noah" (Stereo Mix) (2008 Digital Remaster)
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