Paul Ramsay
Since 2005
Works in United States of America

BIO
Paul Ramsay: PR - born UK 1959

Ever since an early age, PR has been interested in music and especially the album as a cultural unit (see http://pralbum.blogspot.com/2004/05/first-tracks.html).

Began composing in the 70's and was a member of various bands including 'PGRS' (1 album: 'Photographs of Sound' 1979) and the Southampton-based 'Omega Ensemble' (improvised music; 1984-89). Additional interest in the visual arts led to studying degree in Visual and Performing Arts at Brighton Polytechnic 1987-1990 where he composed pieces for dance, developed a form called 'salt crystal painting' and produced video installation work.

1990-1: Published a series of artist's bookworks (including a book of scores for music) on the imprint Alembic Books; 1991-2: Worked as a researcher for Multimedia Company Cognitive Applications where he was introduced to hypertext for the first time; 1993-6: Began developing (at Middlesex University) a series of indeterminate multimedia pieces using image, text and music. Also initiated PMusic - a form of computer-based, indeterminate composition. 1996 to present time: continues to develop both PMusic and RMusic compositions and other works structured through hypertext.

PR is currently a lecturer in Fine Art (Time-Based and Digital) at University of Plymouth, Exeter Campus in the UK and maintains a website for this at http://www.plymouthfineart.co.uk/Home.html

He also runs Chameleon Lectra (http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk) - an electronic arts organisation and home to the MOTILE recordLabel which released PR's first solo album 'Inlets' in 2004: http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/MotileInlets.html
and 'Magic Stones' by Robert Jarvis in 2006: http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/MagicStones.html

PR is also a member of the Mail Art group 'Field Study'
(http://www.eak-art.co.uk/picnics/html/field.html)
and is currently developing his own site at http://www.paulramsay.co.uk

First Open Compositions project (2007) - 'The Sound of the Field' - a mail art sound art collaboration: http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/thesoundofthefield.html

Sound art installation: 'Mobile Dawn In An Old World Garden' - http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/MobileDawn.html - featured as part of the Anti-Parallel show at Egenis Building, University of Exeter, Byrne House, St German's Road,
Exeter, Devon UK: March 16th to April 5th 2007 - see http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/antiparallel.html

Notes on Mobile Dawn can be found at http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/MobileDawn_notes.html

'Consemble: Plymouth' (Consemble: P) http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/Consemble-P.html - premiered as an open source-inspired compositional project for the 'Distributed City' strand of the Sonic Arts Network EXPO 2007 (22nd-25th June) - see http://www.sonicartsnetwork.org/expo/distributedcity.html

The open compositions 'Consemble' project (http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/Consemble.html) launched July 14th 2007 after my paper on the final day of the Utopia 2007 conference (
http://www.utopia2007.org.uk)

Exhibitions:
'Works Of Friction' show (Steve Thorpe: Rock Works/Paul Ramsay: Sound Works) at ART TERRACINA GALLERY, HAVEN BANKS, EXETER QUAY, DEVON EX2 8GR - UK
1st September 2007 - 16th September 2007

As well as Steve Thorpe's fascinating 'Rock Works' series, this show featured my accompanying Parallel Music sound installation 'Frictional Account' - built from over 320 recordings of rocks being activated through friction. My contribution also included a series of visual pieces which feature reworked 78rpm gramophone records.
-for more see: http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/worksoffriction/

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Parallel Music <em>eTude 23</em>, based on my experience with Consembling, (see <a href="http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/Consemble.html) was premiered as part of the Sound and Film (Voices Festival) on Sunday 24th Feb 2008 in the Jill Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth - http://www.plymouthdiary.co.uk/event.php?e=8216

Also started painting again, with fruit and salt, as documented in my blog:
http://pralbum.blogspot.com

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2009:
Second series of music licences launched for the Consemble project:
Consemble C2 - 'the idea of voice'
Consemble E - 'soul electric'
Consemble F - 'washed up on your island'
Consemble G - 'skywriting'

2010 (21st May):
third series of Consemble by invitation:
Consemble H - 'chair with wings'
Consemble I - 'orient'
Consemble J - 'pond life'
Consemble K - 'café of chance encounters'
see http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/Consemble.html

2010 (9th September):
launched a new, free PMusic SINGLE entitled 'A Walk Away From You (Keeping Quiet)' in collaboration with artist/composer/vocalist Carla J. Patterson (AKA Carla Cryptic) - have a listen at: http://www.chameleonlectra.co.uk/AWalkAwayFromYou

feedback welcome ;-)