Sound

"Sound and Time"- Boyd expresses his love for music and various sounds. He records and mixes sounds, to create a conversation between material, sound and place- sound being the activating element connecting them. Multiple sounds to make one- natural and unnatural combined to create something new. He often mixes his recordings and creates a loop.
This video made me think of all the different sounds in the world, and the different ways in which they could possibly mix together. It is mind blowing to think about how many variations are possible.

"Listen"- This video really pointed out the different natural sounds, birds, traffic, metal pipes, a record, gloves going on a hand, a hat on the head, hay and snow crunching below feet, a zipper. This video made me aware of how many sounds I take for-granted and tune out on an average day.

"Listen up: Opening our Ears to Acoustic Ecology" This article broke down "acoustic ecology" as an umbrella term and the different ways sound is being studied. The main point- Sound affects humans and animals within their environment. City noise has been interfering with different species of birds- their mating calls have changed from a unique song to a generic chirp.  Sonar used by the Navy for underwater surveillance are affecting marine life- Migration patterns changed for whales- Some beached themselves, autopsies showed hemorrhages in or around ears- pointing to the cause being "intense acoustic pressure." Technology has added to us selectively listening. That being present and really listing is of up-most importance.

"The Father of Acoustic Ecology"- "Society is in need of a big old Q-tip. Our senses are clogged with too much." This article begins- It expresses the importance of listening to what is around you and how technology has lead to us zoning out sound, due to the lack of important information its natural drone makes. It goes on to speak of how humans make destructive sounds and even go so far as to attack others with it. That long distance hearing isn't as possible anymore- overpopulation of sound has taken over. That sounds and nature are connected- If an instrument is played or a song is sung, birds will sing back.

All of the above material promoted the importance of listening- and suggested that we have become so accustom to ambient and other noises we have forgotten the importance of really listening. That to really experience the world and not stay stuck inside yourself- it is necessary to really listen and let the sounds slowly unfold and layer around you. That sounds are important- not only to listen to, but encouraged thoughtfulness when expelling your own noise. Also the difference between distortion, broadband noise and natural, rich sounds.  

As I was reading the articles I begin to realize how little I really listen to the different sounds around me. My ears had defiantly become jaded to sounds of the world. After turning my ears back on, so to speak I really noticed how much noise is humming in the air at any given time.

A lot of questions and things to consider came to mind: What makes two sounds work together and why. What makes a sound pleasant, and on the flip what makes a sound abrasive or annoying. I never thought to think this much about sound.