Sylvia Hallett

Sylvia Hallett (born 1953) is an English musician and composer. She plays many instruments including the violin and she is known for improvisations on unusual instruments. She has appeared at international festivals, often in collaboration with theatres and dance companies. Career Hallett studied music at the Dartington College of Arts. She continued her studies in Paris with Max Deutsch. Hallett’s instruments have included Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, saw, accordion, found objects such as a bicycle wheel, at times modified by electronics. From the early 1970s, she has appeared at international festivals. She has performed solo and as a duo with Clive Bell. She has also collaborated with artists such as Lol Coxhill, Phil Minton, Maggie Nicols, Evan Parker, and with theatres and dance projects. In 2012 she played in David Toop’s “atmospheric opera” Star-shaped Biscuit. Hallett made several solo recordings, which include improvisations, songs and “tape collage pieces” from her works for the stage. For her recording White Fog, she bowed a bicycle wheel. A review describes “plaintive sounds” of the wheel spokes, expanded to “soundscapes” by digital delay boxes. A second piece on the rec