Guide to the Sonde Collection Collection number: MDML - 021 Finding Aid prepared by: Sharon Rankin Latest revision: 16 November 2016 Collection Summary Title Sonde Collection Span Dates 1975-2013 Creator The Sonde Collection was donated by group member Charles de Mestral. Collection size 1,900 pieces Languages The collection material is in English and in French. Repository Marvin Duchow Music Library, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, 3rd floor, 527 Sherbrooke St., Montréal, Québec, Canada 514-398-4695 http://www.mcgill.ca/library/branches/music Abstract The Sonde Collection is divided into two categories: Sonde Papers and Charles de Mestral Papers, which are each further subdivided into series. The collection consists of correspondence, documentation, audio and video pertaining to activities of Sonde (formerly named MUD, Musical Design), a Montreal-based electro-acoustical group of musicians who created and played sound sources. The Charles de Mestral Papers are the personal items of Charles de Mestral (1944 - ), a member of the Sonde group from its inception. Guide to The Sonde Collection Page 1 of 54 Selected Search Terms: The following subject terms (LCSH) have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's catalogue: de Mestral, Charles, -- 1944- -- Archives. Sonde (Musical group) -- Archives. Music -- Canada -- History -- 20th century. The collection entry can be found at: http://mcgill.worldcat.org/oclc/881108935 Administrative Information Provenance Gift; Charles de Mestral, composer and Sonde musician. Accruals Further accruals are expected. Processing History The Sonde Collection was first processed in December 2013 by Sharon Rankin. This finding aid was prepared using Microsoft Word 2010. Copyright Status The status of copyright on the contents of the Sonde Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of Canada. Restrictions The Sonde Collection is open to research. Certain restrictions on use, copying and/or publication of materials may apply. Researchers are advised to contact the Marvin Duchow Music Library prior to visiting. Cynthia Leive, head librarian at [email protected] . Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: The Sonde Collection, box number, folder number, series number, Marvin Duchow Music Library, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. (For example: Sonde Collection, Box 1, F.1/S.1, Marvin Duchow Music Library, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.) Guide to The Sonde Collection Page 2 of 54 Scope and Content Note The Sonde Collection provides a thirty-five year span of documentation for a Montreal-based Canadian experimental musical group who were very active electroacoustic composers and performers in the 70s and 80s. Sonde (formerly named MUD, Musical Design), created and played sound sources in Quebec, Canada and Europe. Sonde’s compositions were generally conceived for live performance on original sound sculptures. Using meditative improvisation, the group produced new music with sounds created by electroacoustic amplification and transformation. The Sonde Collection is divided into 26 series and contains approximately 1,900 items. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence, concert posters and programs, and audio and video recordings. Activities of the Sonde group are described together as Sonde Papers and the activities of Charles de Mestral, a founding member of the group as Charles de Mestral Papers. In the Sonde Papers, whenever it has been possible to do so, each item is referenced to the events listing, a numbered, chronological listing of events created by the group, entitled: ACTIVITES DU GROUPE SONDE (1975-2010) / Sonde Activities (1975-2010). The Sonde Papers include posters, programmes, scores, photographs, audio and video recordings. The Charles de Mestral Papers are the personal items of Charles de Mestral, a member of the Sonde group from its inception. Whenever it has been possible to do so, each item is referenced to the events listing entitled: RÉALISATIONS DANS LE DOMAINE DE L’INSTALLATION SONORE (1985-2013, Charles de Mestral) / Sound Installations (1985- 2013, Charles de Mestral) a numbered, chronological list of activities of Charles de Mestral. The Charles de Mestral Papers include scores, correspondence, installation plans, clippings, audio recordings and publications. Biographical Sketches Sonde Sonde was a music design and performance ensemble based in Montreal who explored the relationship between sound, music, space and time. Sonde members were inspired by Italian composer Mario Bertoncini who taught a Music Design course in McGill’s Faculty of Music in the early 1970s. Bertoncini proposed that composition begin before the instrument, requiring the composer to explore the acoustic properties of materials and structures and invent new instruments as part of the creation of a new composition. Sonde was formed in 1975 and originally called MUD (an abbreviation of Musical Design). MUD gave their first performance in 1975 at Pollack Hall, McGill University in Montreal. Sonde’s instruments (sound sources) were designed and constructed by members of the group. The original members of MUD were Andrew Culver, Pierre Dostie, Chris Howard, and Charles de Mestral. Guide to The Sonde Collection Page 3 of 54 From 1976 to 1985, Sonde gave hundreds of electroacoustic performances in North America and Europe on sound sources of their own invention, improvising live electronic music and collaborating with visual artists. For this time period, Sonde’s musicians included Charles de Mestral, Pierre Dostie, Christopher Howard, Robin Minard, Keith Daniel and Andrew Culver. Sonde was joined in various performances by Linda Pavelka (vocalist) and Keith Daniel (electronics inventor and engineer) and was also engaged in several television and film productions. Charles de Mestral Charles de Mestral was born in Montreal in 1944. He obtained a B.A. Philosophy and English Literature, University of Toronto in 1996; an M.A. University of Montreal in 1970; a McGill B.Mus. (composition studies with Allan Heard, Mario Bertoncini, Harry Freedman) in 1976 and a Ph.D. University of Montreal (thesis on the particularity of the aesthetic of Georg Lukacs) in 1981. In 2007-08, he studied language and ancient Chinese thought at the Asian Studies Centre of the East, University of Montreal. Charles de Mestral was an active member of the Montreal band Sonde as composer, performer, sound sculptor, and designer of electronic systems from 1975-2010. Sonde produced more than a hundred public events (concerts, performance accompaniments, sound installations, emissions, film music) and more than a hundred electroacoustic compositions for execution (usually) live in Quebec, Ontario and in Paris, London, Berlin, Lyon, and Bristol. From 1987 to 1990, Charles was Secretary of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community (CEC). Charles has held several teaching positions in Montreal at the Cégep du Vieux Montreal. From 1968 to 2007, Charles was Professor of Philosophy and coordinator of the Philosophy department from 1990 to 2000. From 1997 to 2007, Charles was Professor of Arts and Letters in the Communications Program and coordinator of the program from 2001 to 2006. Retired since June 2007, he lectures as part of the People's University Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the Montreal UPOP (the People's University of Montreal) and the University of the Third Age. Charles de Mestral currently (2016) resides in Montreal. Guide to The Sonde Collection Page 4 of 54 Arrangement The Sonde Collection is organised into two categories: the Sonde Papers and the Charles de Mestral Papers and their contents have been divided into 26 series. Sonde Papers: 1. Catalogue of Works 2. Correspondence 3. Instrument Plans 4. Manuscripts 5. Background Information 6. Clippings 7. Publications 8. Event programs & Communiques 9. Festival Programs 10. Photographs 11. Negatives 12. Posters 13. Audio Recordings i. Cassette tapes ii. CD-ROMs iii. Reel-to-reel tapes 14. Video Recordings Charles de Mestral Papers: 15. Scores 16. Correspondence 17. Installation Plans 18. Clippings 19. Event programs & Communiques 20. Publications 21. Conference Programs 22. Photographs 23. Negatives 24. Audio Recordings 25. Video Recordings 26. Confidential Files Guide to The Sonde Collection Page 5 of 54 Events Listings The Sonde Collection has two event listings prepared by the donor. 1. ACTIVITES DU GROUPE SONDE (1975-2010) / Sonde Activities (1975-2010) 2. RÉALISATIONS DANS LE DOMAINE DE L’INSTALLATION SONORE (1985- 2013, Charles de Mestral) / Sound Installations (1985-2013 Charles de Mestral) The first list contains numbered, chronological of activities of the Sonde Group and the second list contains numbered, chronological of activities of Charles de Mestral. The event numbers are used in the contents listing for the papers in the Sonde Collection and are recorded on the items in the collection if known. 1. ACTIVITES DU GROUPE SONDE (1975-2010) 1/ Sonde Activities (1975-2010) Sous le nom ‘ le groupe MUD / design musical ’/ Performing as MUD / Musical Design: Sonde 1 : SALLE POLLACK DE L'UNIVERSITÉ MCGILL, Montréal Concert, 29 mars 1976. / Pollack Hall, McGill University, Montreal, Concert. 29 March 1976. SONDE 2 : SALLE POLLACK DE L'UNIVERSITÉ MCGILL, Montréal Concert, 3 mai 1976. / Pollack Hall, McGill University, Montreal, Concert. 3 March 1976. Sonde 3;4 : Galerie MEDIA, Montréal Concerts (2), juillet 1976. / MEDIA Gallery, Montreal, Concerts (2). July 1976.