A new art installation set up on le Quartier des Spectacles in downtown Montreal has people swinging for the skies in search of the perfect sound. The interactive installation, called 21 Balançoires (21 Swings), features 21 swings that emit musical notes when they move back and forth. It’s the work of Montreal artist Melissa Mongiat and New York-trained artist Mouna Andraos, winners of the 2010 Phyllis Lambert Grant.

Each swing produces a note pre-recorded from a collection of musical instruments. Out of the 21 swings, nine swings play piano, six play guitar and six play vibraphone. The swings create different sounds depending on how you swing. Generally, the higher you swing, the higher the note – but artists maintain there are secret surprises for those who get creative with their swinging.

But 21 Balançoires isn’t about solo performances – in order to get the best sounds, you’ve got to swing together. Indeed, the installation is subtitled Un exercice de coopération musicale  (An exercise in musical cooperation).

As Mongiat explained in an interview “Depending on how people swing together, certain sounds are revealed. There’s also a secret, top-level sound when there’s something magical happening in all the swings together.”

So grab 20 of your best pals and head out to swing! You’re sure to make beautiful music together.

21 Balançoires (21 Swings) runs through May 23 on the Promenade des Artistes, Quartier des Spectacles, between de Maisonneuve Blvd. and President Kennedy Ave.

Image courtesy of Quartier des Spectacles 

~ Heidi Craig