Gentle giants
Mar 23, 06:26 PM
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"Inspired by Colin Hunter’s field recording from Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly half of the world’s wild mountain gorilla population—Gentle Giants is a sonic exploration of this remarkable environment. Once classified as critically endangered, the mountain gorilla’s population has grown to over 1,000 thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.
"Colin’s recording captures a rare moment with the Oruzogo group, led by Bakwate, a powerful silverback, accompanied by two females. Their vocalisations, intertwined with the rustling bamboo and cracking undergrowth, became the foundation of this piece.
"I sought to immerse the listener in the dense, living rainforest—its beauty, its fragility, and its raw power. The dramatic opening unfolds with layers of thunder, rain, and flowing water, evoking the pulse of the wilderness. Every other sound in the piece originates from the original sample, transformed and layered to shape an evolving soundscape. At 2:35 mins the original field recording emerges in its purest form, grounding the listener in the heart of the forest.
"A haunting clarinet improvisation by Gareth Stuart was transposed down an octave to resemble a bass clarinet, symbolising the rainforest’s mystical spirit. As the storm subsides, the piece returns to tranquility—leaving us with the quiet presence of these gentle giants."
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest reimagined by Amanda Stuart.
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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
"Colin’s recording captures a rare moment with the Oruzogo group, led by Bakwate, a powerful silverback, accompanied by two females. Their vocalisations, intertwined with the rustling bamboo and cracking undergrowth, became the foundation of this piece.
"I sought to immerse the listener in the dense, living rainforest—its beauty, its fragility, and its raw power. The dramatic opening unfolds with layers of thunder, rain, and flowing water, evoking the pulse of the wilderness. Every other sound in the piece originates from the original sample, transformed and layered to shape an evolving soundscape. At 2:35 mins the original field recording emerges in its purest form, grounding the listener in the heart of the forest.
"A haunting clarinet improvisation by Gareth Stuart was transposed down an octave to resemble a bass clarinet, symbolising the rainforest’s mystical spirit. As the storm subsides, the piece returns to tranquility—leaving us with the quiet presence of these gentle giants."
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest reimagined by Amanda Stuart.
———————
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