Paula Matthusen

Paula Matthusen

Elliott Carter Rome Prize
September 8, 2014–July 31, 2015
Profession
Assistant Professor of Music, Wesleyan University
Project title
Modern Soundscapes, Ancient Structures: Sonic Pathways between the Ancient Aqueducts and Contemporary Rome
Project description

During the fellowship period supported by the American Academy, I plan to conduct a series of field recordings of the pathways of the ancient aqueducts of Rome, to be used to create an original multimovement work for percussion, live electronics, and fixed media. This builds on previous work I have conducted involving field recordings of historical infrastructures within New York, that also involved the Cloaca Maxima in Rome. The juxtaposition of historical pathways with contemporary soundscapes will likely lead to surprising sonic contrasts. These explorations aim to forge meaningful sonic connections between ancient and modern day Rome, as well as reflect on the livelihood of cities and the longstanding veins that contributed to their evolution.