As part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Melbourne native will be joined by a five-piece ensemble, the Australian Symbiotic Improvisers Orbit (ASIO), at Birrarung Marr for the Transitive Cycles concert on Saturday 4 June at 12pm.
With a range of instruments including Moog guitar, acoustic bass, electric piano, trombone, shakuhachi flute, drums and Barney's own home-made electronic oddity called "Chucky", Transitive Cyles promises to be a diverse and exciting performance. The piece is also a tribute to some of Australia's most revered jazz composers.
Arts and Culture portfolio Chair Councillor Rohan Leppert said Melburnians would be treated to two unique works composed especially for the Federation Bells by Barney McAll, the piano luminary who has worked with Australian musicians Sia and Gian Slater as well as US legend Gary Bartz.
"Transitive Cycles promises to be a very special aural feast and I encourage people to head to Birrarung Marr to hear Barney McCall and his ensemble play this magical instrument," Councillor Leppert said.
A second specially commissioned work of McAll's will also play on the bells every hour on the hour of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. It features the Federation Bells alone and will go into the bank of more than 200 compositions that get played regularly on the bells through its daily schedule.
It can be heard hourly on the Federation Bells during the festival from 4 to 12 June from 9am to 10pm each day.
The City of Melbourne is also launching the Federation Bells app as part of these celebrations. Download the free app from the Apple App store or the Google Play store and your phone or tablet can make the Federation Bells in Birrarung Marr play, simply by tapping on your screen.
"The Federation Bells app allows people to create their own musical masterpiece, collaborate with others and play a game of Simon Bells," Councillor Leppert said. "Even when you are away from the bells, you can still hear their sounds, record and share new compositions and play the game."
The Federation Bells is a musical installation and public art work created in 2001 to mark the centenary of Federation. It is managed by the City of Melbourne.
Transitive Cycles is a free event and no bookings are required. For more information see the Federation Bells website.
From 3 to 12 June 2016, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival includes a stunning program of unmissable headliners, intimate club gigs, late-night jams, close encounters, workshops, family events and free concerts. Further information at the Melbourne Jazz website.