Alex H Duncan’s work

What does a conversation with a tree or flower sound like?  How might we be changed once we have experienced the voices of the unheard plant world?  Be immersed in this world with sound artist, Musician and teacher Alex H Duncan, who see’s it as his calling to give plant life a voice in a world in desperate need of their undoubtable wisdom.  

‘The patterns, cadences and musical structures of plants fill me with awe and delight.’  Alex offers us their magical viewpoint through sound gathered via midi data which he then offers to our ears through sound generators and synthesisers. They provide the pitch, tempos and melody and he reflects mycelium networks intimately and perfectly with his expert arrangements.  He has tuned into the tonal and rhythmic complexities of vegetal life and coloured it with his own expressiveness. Celebrated composers like Terry Riley already follow him.

‘Once you’ve heard how a plant’s music changes when it’s distressed, watered, or picked (killed, in fact), everything changes, so much so that my relationship to the planet is now different; it is somehow more refined, deeper, perhaps even closer to a truth. For me, it’s beautiful and transformative.’

Betty Howarth, aged 90 from Hartland: “it’s like hearing the Earth being formed, I was blown away by it.“ 

Plants and fungi are not interested in our machine-like music which has become mechanistic with it’s repetition and relentless beats. Imagine the maths necessary to convey the complexity of a forest floor or the leaves of a tree!  Listening to music that isn’t human changes both your perceptions of the planet and may introduce you to a different way of thinking; one where the rush of the instant beat is gone, leaving your brain time and space to think and consider.

‘Deep below us great things are happening. As you listen to my music, I want you to imagine traveling these networks, moving beneath the busyness above, deep into the vast lava flows and back through time. Eventually it’s where we go and it’s where we came from.’

Alex is experienced at providing a range of workshops, concerts, talks and films.  He runs workshops for participants with their laptops to compose their own music and offers lectures at Universities, arts and eco centres.  He performed at Glastonbury 2022 and has been interviewed by Lauren Laverne and is followed by Barnoness Natalie Bennet.

For 6 months in 2025, Alex worked with RHS Rosemoor in Devon EX38 8PH  to provide their extraordinary Tree Sound Trail.  Walk around their grounds with your phone and earphones to connect via QR codes on wonderful ancient trees and hear them via Alex’s technical and musical skills.  This fantastic addition to the activities available there is awesome, as we not only hear these trees rustle and move in the space, but enjoy the other worldly sounds from inside as they speak to us.

All Alex’s music can be heard here: Alex H Duncan

Alex runs his own Radio shows ‘Plant Noise’ https://www.mixcloud.com/camp_fr/plant-noise-11th-april-2023/ that has garnered a lot of followers.

Alex talking about his work: https://youtu.be/79-TrU3LJ2c

Alex’s website for more information https://irregular-patterns.com/alex-h-duncan-music-from-the-real-world/

We think this work is fascinating, deeply moving, inspirational and necessary for a deeper connection with plants and our world. Rowena represents Alex and looks forward to you getting in touch.