Hakim

"The ancient Hakim Mosque, located in the Isfahan province of Iran, was built in the 17th century on the ruins of an even older mosque. The relatively ordinary field recording made outside this mosque contrasts with the intricate beauty of its architecture. We are situated near a fountain, its bubbling flow audible as people chat nearby. As the recording progresses, a procession passes by, with chanting and the jingling of small bells in the background.

"I was captivated by the heritage of the Hakim Mosque and the layers of history beneath it. It made me reflect on the many layers of architecture and culture that form the foundation of human civilization. Our structures and ideas are not new; they are merely one link in a long chain that stretches across countless generations.
These ideas inspired my piece "Hakim" for the Sonic Heritage Project. The piece begins with a trumpet playing a melody reminiscent of the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer. 

"As the melody repeats, subtle variations are introduced. More layers are added, ever-changing, yet still true to the original. I carefully divided and processed the field recording into contrasting layers, creating a foundational structure that weaves in and out of the listener's perception. Echoes of the past (represented by a stretched version of the recording) mingle with the modern soundscape of the sample. The Adhan is intentionally left incomplete, allowing space for the generations of culture yet to come."

Isfahan mosque reimagined by Nathan Plante.

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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