The Wordless Music Orchestra was created to explore the contention that ‘the sound worlds of classical and contemporary instrumental music – in genres such as indie rock and electronic music – share more in common than conventional thinking might suggest’. When the orchestra takes the stage in its support, Production Manager and audio engineer Richie R Clarke uses a selection of mics from DPA Microphones to create an unforgettable sonic experience for the audience.

Clarke began using DPA mics in the early 1990s when recording jazz and classical albums, and film scores. He has a particuar affinity for DPA’s d:dicate 2006C Twin Diaphragm Omnidirectional and d:dicate 4011 Cardioid microphones. He also regularly employs DPA’s d:vote Instrument Microphones, d:screet 4061 Miniature Omnidirectional, d:facto Vocal and other models – typically any number between two and 60 mics, depending on the application.

‘I continue to choose DPA microphones for their excellent audio quality,’ he says. ‘DPA microphones sound natural and clear across the entire frequency spectrum; for string instruments, I find there is no substitute. The d:vote 4099 stands out because it sounds great on a variety of instruments.

‘DPA mics will always be front and centre for all my ongoing and future audio projects,’ he continues. ‘I find that some venues don’t have it in the budget to get me all of my preferred mics. As a result, I have started to build up my own collection of DPA microphones to travel with, so my desired sound doesn’t have to suffer due to budget constraints. This has already proven to be the best decision I could have made.’

Wordless Music Orchestra is the house band of New York’s Wordless Music series, which was founded by Ronen Givony in 2006, and has since performed in museums, churches, nightclubs and outdoors, pairing artists from the classical, electronic and rock genres. Comprising members of groups including Alarm Will Sound, ACME and Ensemble Signal, the orchestra presented its first concerts over two sold-out nights in 2008 under conductor Brad Lubman, with the US premiere of Jonny Greenwood’s Popcorn Superhet Receiver, in a programme with music by Gavin Bryars and John Adams.

Clarke is currently working on a live score screening of the Moonlight, whose world premiere took place earlier this year and the company will be presenting it in London. In addition, he will be mixing the world premiere of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon live orchestra performance in New York.

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