Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Assignment #1 - The Soundwalk (the woods by the river off of Cambridge)
1. Activating my Hearing (the sounds I hear at first approach)
At first all I can really pay attention to is the sound that my feet make as a walk. The breaking and snapping of twigs, the crunch of gravel, the stomp and slide of trying to climb down rugged path all pre-occupy my mind. I feel like it is very unnatural until I sit down and focus on what is really happening around me that I’m not directly causing. The sound of approaching water roar distracts me and grabs my attention.
2. The High and low Frequencies
TheThe most dominant high frequency sound to me was the babbling water. However, after awhile when my ears adjusted and got used to it, it became more of white noise. But it is definitely the sound that draws you in. So in many ways it starts off as the high frequency but transitions into the low frequency or less dominant. Other than that other low frequencies that I had to concentrate to hear were traffic noise (airplane, bikes, and buses). The tiniest sound I had to focus on individual drips and swoosh of the water that wasn’t rushing over the obstruction. The standing water that doesn’t appear to be traveling anywhere was a more rewarding comparison to the roaring rush of the other water sounds.
3. Listening closely
- The buzzing of an insect, starts out soft and distant, but as I approach the insect call grows louder and louder. It is almost irritating, but at the same time it’s pattern draws me in. Sort of like a “hair metal” electric guitar’s constant wail. It’s annoying, but still pleases in a strange way.
- The babbling of water as it rushes over an obstruction. The most constant sound of them all. It never ceases. It’s too dominant at first but quickly becomes white noise.
- Sporadic bird chirping. Less frequent than the insect, but same idea. At times it is sharp and piercing to the ears.
- A slight airplane hum. Very distant. Doesn’t really feel a part of the scene, like it doesn’t belong.
- Children screams/shouts. The high point of listening, completely random and unexpected it catches the attention the most easily. It will always catch your attention when you hear children shout out curses.
- Barely audible bike noises. They add a sense of travel or passing feeling to the soundscape. Nothing is static, everything is mobile.
- The rustle of leaves and branches and the wind blows them. Very hard to pick up, but it's soothing and very relaxing. Comparing it to my harsh rustling through the path, it is softer and less abrasive.
- The slap, splash and crack of wooden planks upon the water as children stepped on them. Very sharp crack, and attention grabbing. Same type of impact as if someone heard a gun shot or thunder roar.
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