Amazing afternoon today at New York's (largely) hidden gem, the Cloisters in upper Manhattan, a birthday pick by my lovely wife. In the castle they presented their first ever contemporary art piece that has drawn raves: an eleven-minute piece titled the "Forty Part Motet," featuring Tudor composer Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium. Sound comes from a separate speaker for each of the 40 singers in the choir, arrayed in a large oval in an ancient chapel. So you can sit inside the sound and let it wash over you--or stand in front of one of the speakers and listen to one of the singers come and go. Visitors stand or sit and enter deep contemplation or reverie. A short video here captures some of it. If you're in NYC area, don't miss this. And the Cloisters is (are) cool anyway. Here's a video of when it was done in a different setting:
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