Spektral_Quartet

Chicago’s Spektral Quartet has teamed up with 40 composers in the US on an initiative to replace mobile phone default ringtones and alarms with performances of original contemporary music.

The project, called Mobile Miniatures: New Music for Your Phone, was launched through the Kickstarter project funding website. With the help of 111 backers, the musicians raised the US$8,516 necessary to commission the scores, hire the recording studio, make the recordings and convert them into ringtones, alarms and alerts.

‘Just imagine a world in which mini-harps and cricket ringtones are replaced by tiny, one hundred per cent original new music concerts,' says a voice on the project’s promotional film (right).

With the composers’ scores now submitted, the quartet will rehearse the compositions ahead of the recording dates in January. The ringtones will be released on 29 March at a live event in Chicago and will be available to buy on the quartet’s website.  

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