Links
Some online resources for more information:
EarthEar
Comprehensive collection of soundscape CDs, including links to other sources
AcousticEcology.org
Coverage of environmental issues related to sound; includes News Digest, Special
Reports, Educators' Resource Center, and links to recent scientific publications.
World Forum for Acoustic Ecology
Worldwide consortium of regional groups focusing on acoustic ecology, including
artistic, education, public policy, and literary elements.
Phonography.org
Online network of recordists featuring a wide variety of sound files; many
offer CD-R versions of their work, and compilation CDs from the group are
available.
Rock Art Acoustics
Steven
J. Waller's Rock Art Acoustics page; a fascinating look at ancient soundscape
art.
Naturesongs.com
A website with samples of various
natural sounds and photos, promoting nature recording and archiving, with a
library of sounds available for educators.
Articles and Essays:
Speaking
with Animal Tongues - David Abram
Rich reflections on the ways that humans grew with, and away from, a sensory awareness of the world around us.
From Ethnomusicology to Echo-Muse-Ecology - Steven Feld
On the ways that environment gives rise to music-making in the Papua New Guinea rainforest; and the transformation of
experience in an academic field researcher upon discovery of the emerging field of Acoustic Ecology.
Environmental Sound Matter - Francisco Lopez
An extended essay that takes exception to many of the standard ways of considering nature sound production,
and makes a case for a "profound listening" that is quite separate from place-centered reverie.
Schizophrenia v. l'objet sonore - Francisco Lopez
Another provocative foray, contrasting two major perspectives on soundscapes: one that sees this work as healing a
rift between humanity and nature, and another that is more interested in the new and uncharted artistic territories of
composing with sound objects, without reference to their source.
Get Out of Whatever Cage: Avant Garde in the Natural
World - David Rothenberg
Rambling through music, society, and the sounds of the world with John Cage whispering in his ear, Rothenberg reflects
on the influences on, and of, Cage.
The Last Laugh - Wendy Liles
On the curse--and blessing--of not being able to shut out the sounds of the city.
Take a Listening Walk and Learn to Listen - Gary Ferrington
A very accessible introduction to soundwalking, and the simple act of paying attention to sound.
Interview with sound artist Stephen Vitiello on rhizome.org.
Projects include interactive installations with controls for up to "seventeen simultaneous tracks to devise a mix that might include a fruit
fly courtship, an underwater volcano, poison frogs, and extracts from the fiery sounds of the Saturn 5 lift-off."
Other essays written by Jim Cummings:
The Eternal Story in its Original Language
The Dreams of Gaia liner note essay on the social aspects of opening our ears
to the sounding world.
Listen Up: Opening our Ears to Acoustic Ecology
Feature article from Zoogoer, magazine of the National Zoo in DC; overview
of both environmental and artistic aspects of soundscapes.
Ears Wide Open: Re-entering the Sounding World
Lyrical invitation into listening in the world itself (rather than listening
to CDs).
Press Backgrounder: Musical, Environmental, and Technical Considerations
Overview of soundscape production styles, acoustic ecology issues, and microphone
setups used in the field.
The Brave New World of Environmental Sound
Trade magazine article on the history and future of environmental sound production.
Nature Playing in the Band
Trade magazine article on various approaches to composing in response to nature,
including playing in the wild, creating accompaniment to recordings in the
studio, and writing music inspired by the patterns of nature.
AcousticEcology.org Essays
Links to essays by many writers on topics related to listening and soundscape productions.
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