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music

crafting engaging music and sound works that restore connection with our communities, ourselves and

our sonic imaginations.

Image by NordWood Themes

Create a Buzz

June 2024

In June, a giant hive popped up in Reading Town Hall Square, a calming space where visitors could rest, surrounded by a soundtrack written by our composer Nino Auricchio. The event, curated by our friends at Nature Nurture, was part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, organised by Reading Climate Action Network (CAN). As you may have already guessed, the four days of activities promoted the beauty and diversity of bees in our local green spaces.

In the Hive of LightNino Auricchio
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In addition to 'The Hive' Working with local primary school children, we recorded Bee Happy and Bee Gloomy scripts to highlight the importance of bees for biodiversity, climate change and human health. Our sound designer Dan Rothberger then wove these into two headphone listening experiences.

Bee HappyDaniel Rothberger
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Bee GloomyDaniel Rothberger
00:00 / 01:19
create a buzz
Image by NordWood Themes
Slumberbus SoundscapeRichard Bentley
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Seasonal Slumberbus

 

December 2019

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Drawing inspiration from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we invited passersby to step off the high street, hop into bed, snuggle up and reconnect with the season of goodwill. Captivated by the dreamy play of lights and accompanied by a fascinating and subliminal soundtrack of clockwork whirrs wheels and well-known mid-winter melodies, visitors were free to explore a selection of sound toys that reawaken their inner child. Then, warmed by that most delightful dream, we invited them to make an advent offering for the coming Yuletide. 

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Image by NordWood Themes

James and the Giant Peach

 

July 2019

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Working with young visitors to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden to record and produce a music-infused soundscape to accompany story excerpts and original illustrations from this famous tale. (July 2019)

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Giant Peach Audiobook (excerpt)Richard Bentley
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Image by NordWood Themes
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Flamboyance: The World Turned Upsidown

 

April 2019

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The Annual Daydream Harvest quietly worked away with Aspire2, Whitley Community Development Association and Schools and community to grow a rather beautiful and unique event on the streets of Whitley South Reading.

UpsidownRichard Bentley
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Image by NordWood Themes

Fright Night

 

November 2018

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Whistling grains from climbing frames. Sinister, unstable drones from a chest freezer and the clank of heavy iron gates. Most pleasing of all, the squeals and screams of visitors walking through the installation.  Fright Night with WCDA and the Annual Daydream Harvest

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Fright Night (excerpt)Richard Bentley
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Image by NordWood Themes
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Secret Symphony

 

October 2018

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Imagine walking through beautifully lit woodland with music and soundscapes transporting you to a different period in history. Visitors wander the woods, listening on wireless headphones to one of three, ten-minute compositions inspired by field recordings captured at the Woodland Trust's Tring Park in Hertfordshire. 

Ancient WoodlandRichard Bentley
00:00 / 09:59
Image by NordWood Themes
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The Spire FinalRichard Bentley
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Flamboyance: The Spire

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April 2018

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Working with the Annual Daydream Harvest collective to create music and sound for 'The Spire' event in Whitley . Students from the local John Madjeski Academy school recorded vocal phrases and contributed to the sound design through field recordings sourced at the school. All the elements were used in the four tracks used for the final event. 

Audibles FinalRichard Bentley
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Visibles FinalRichard Bentley
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Mechanicals FinalRichard Bentley
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Image by NordWood Themes
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Paraffinalia (Festive Road)

 

December 2015 and 2016

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I was Musical Director for Festive Road's 'Paraffinalia' event in Milton Keynes 2015-16. In 2015, I was offered the opportunity to produce original music for the shows' fire performers and work alongside LoboTren, a community drumming group, to rehearse and perform a number of pieces to accompany the story of the Red Knight and Crow King. I was asked back in 2016 to compose music to accompany the main event a battle of knights, dragons and spirits. 

Balilika MysteryRichard Bentley (feat. Jude Haste)
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The Dragon PrincessRichard Bentley
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Paraffinalia 2015 Montage.mp3Richard Bentley
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Image by NordWood Themes
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Revbjelde

 

September 2016

Vinyl LP and digital release with collective Revbjelde:

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"...the anguish, madness & carnage of a divided land that's lost its way. Featuring the sound of a Victorian upright piano being sledge-hammered to pieces, cristal baschet & violin." Agrona Wuhhung

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Image by NordWood Themes

The Winter Giant

 

December 2015

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Beautiful Creatures: Winter Giant

Writing music for the 'River Scene' of this winter spectacular. The music accompanied a giant heron and fish puppets on their way downstream to meet the lonely Winter Giant.

Heron IslandRichard Bentley
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Confession Box (excerpt)Richard Bentley
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Makeshift Machine (excerpt)Richard Bentley
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The Waiting RoomRichard Bentley
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The Annual Daydream Harvest

 

2014-2016

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I have worked with the Annual Daydream Harvest collective since 2014 as musician, sound artist and performer. Early projects include:

  • 'Bones of a house' exhibition at Cornerstone, Sept 2016

  • Milton Keynes Fringe, August 2016

  • 'In an artist's shoes,' Langtree School - July 2016

  • Readipop Festival, Caversham - July 2016

  • East Reading Festival 'Insecurity Guards' - June 2016

  • Open for Art 2016 with Jelly - June 2016

  • 'Working the Makeshift' @Whitfest - May 2016

  • RePlay, Reading Year of Culture - May 2016

  • Flambouyance fire festival - February 2016.

  • 'Locomotion' for Jelly's 'Walking Words' - February 2016

  • Interactive installations at Caversham Festival 2014 and 2015.

  • Exhibition 'With Intent' at Open Hand Open Space Nov 2015.

  • 'ReTale' interactive installation at Jelly Arts, Summer 2015.

  • Poppycock sound sculpture, June 2015.

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Image by NordWood Themes

Octopus Evolves Perspective

 

April 2015

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In 2015 I was invited by Matthew Foster (Creative People) and poet Becci Fernley to write and produce a piece of music for this interdisciplinary installation. The piece integrated field recordings of local spaces with music, live poetry, sculpture and visual art exploring the story.

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PerspectiveRichard Bentley
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