I'm in love with things Australia and New Zealand, as you may be able to tell. So I have these CDs of Australian birdsong, and of sounds of the Outback and rainforest. Of course environmental sounds cds are highly mediated, I know that. But even that is interesting to me—to figure out someone's view of how they would aesthetically translate the rainforest, for instance, may add to the experience rather than subtracting from it, since there is no unmediated access to objects (right?).
These mediations are by Andrew Skeoch and Sarah Koschak of Listening Earth. Their website has an informative blog.
Yes yes I know it says “The Pure Sounds of Nature.” I'm a hypocrite not a cynic, remember?
I would also highly recommend the work La Selva by Francisco Lopez: available here: http://bravojuju.blogspot.com/2009/04/francisco-lopez-la-selva-1998.html
ReplyDeleteI've also heard tell of a phonographer who reconstructs the exact microphone placements and EQ levels used to make record famous symphonies such as the LSO, etc. with the added catch that he reconstructs the arrangements in the middle of various jungles around the world. I love the idea of listening to a patch of moss reconstituted by the means of which we'd otherwise hear the tenor solo in Carmina Burana... or something like that.
However, I haven't been successful in tracking down documentation of his work.
On a related, but decidedly prodding, note- did John Cage play any role in the development of the philosophical positions you navigate today? If so, have you written anywhere on him? Thanks for indulging me - & check out that Lopez record.