Death and rebirth of an iron bridge
Mar 23, 02:29 PM
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"This composition tells the story of an iron bridge, interweaving history, tragedy, and renewal. Drawing from Franz Kafka’s enigmatic short story The Bridge and Renzo Piano’s speech at the inauguration of the Genoa Saint George Bridge, it explores the profound symbolism of bridges—not just as structures, but as living entities that connect, endure, and sometimes fall.
"At the heart of this work are two iconic bridges:
The Iron Bridge, Gorge – The world’s first iron bridge, completed in 1779 over the River Severn, a pioneering feat of engineering and a tribute to human ingenuity.
The Saint George Bridge, Genoa – Designed by Renzo Piano, this bridge was born from tragedy, rising in place of the collapsed Ponte Morandi, which claimed lives on August 14, 2018. Its reconstruction symbolises resilience and the power of renewal.
"The composition is deeply connected to sound as a storytelling medium. The barking of dogs forms the foundation of the recording, evoking both a raw, primal presence and the echoes of history. To further enhance the conceptual depth, I chose a quote from Kafka’s The Bridge to be read by an AI voice. This artificial rendering of Kafka’s words adds an uncanny, almost spectral presence—blurring the line between the human and the mechanical, much like the bridges themselves, which are both engineered structures and deeply symbolic entities.
"Interwoven with the music of renowned composer Lucio Lazzaruolo, these sonic elements create an immersive and emotional landscape—one where bridges breathe, speak, and remember.
"By merging Kafka’s poetic vision of bridges as human-like beings with the legacies of these remarkable structures, this piece seeks to exalt the heritage, memory, and deeper meaning of bridges in our world."
Ironbridge Gorge reimagined by Giovanna Iorio (concept) Lucio Lazzaruolo (music).
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage
"At the heart of this work are two iconic bridges:
The Iron Bridge, Gorge – The world’s first iron bridge, completed in 1779 over the River Severn, a pioneering feat of engineering and a tribute to human ingenuity.
The Saint George Bridge, Genoa – Designed by Renzo Piano, this bridge was born from tragedy, rising in place of the collapsed Ponte Morandi, which claimed lives on August 14, 2018. Its reconstruction symbolises resilience and the power of renewal.
"The composition is deeply connected to sound as a storytelling medium. The barking of dogs forms the foundation of the recording, evoking both a raw, primal presence and the echoes of history. To further enhance the conceptual depth, I chose a quote from Kafka’s The Bridge to be read by an AI voice. This artificial rendering of Kafka’s words adds an uncanny, almost spectral presence—blurring the line between the human and the mechanical, much like the bridges themselves, which are both engineered structures and deeply symbolic entities.
"Interwoven with the music of renowned composer Lucio Lazzaruolo, these sonic elements create an immersive and emotional landscape—one where bridges breathe, speak, and remember.
"By merging Kafka’s poetic vision of bridges as human-like beings with the legacies of these remarkable structures, this piece seeks to exalt the heritage, memory, and deeper meaning of bridges in our world."
Ironbridge Gorge reimagined by Giovanna Iorio (concept) Lucio Lazzaruolo (music).
———————
This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.
Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage