A droning memory
Mar 26, 07:41 PM
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"Browsing through the audio files and listening to a few, I came across a recording that caught my ear. The sounds of different insects formed an afternoon melody in the desert.
"Paquimé is an archaeological site of a long-gone culture, the ruins of a once-thriving city. I try to imagine how it sounded when it was populated—how it must have felt to walk through its streets. As a pre-industrial city, its sonic landscape likely blended human and non-human activity: the songs of birds waking with the sunrise, people walking to the river to collect water, and insects buzzing around the town's market.
"The lively sounds of insects in this recording are among the few remnants left behind— a sonic memory of what no longer exists, a way for them to tell each other and remind us of the past.
"I wanted to compose a piece using this recording, sampling moments from it and adding a few atmospheric synth sounds. Together, they invite listeners to imagine different pasts while reflecting on history and possible futures."
Desert insects at Paquime reimagined by Shachaf Polakow.
———————
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
"Paquimé is an archaeological site of a long-gone culture, the ruins of a once-thriving city. I try to imagine how it sounded when it was populated—how it must have felt to walk through its streets. As a pre-industrial city, its sonic landscape likely blended human and non-human activity: the songs of birds waking with the sunrise, people walking to the river to collect water, and insects buzzing around the town's market.
"The lively sounds of insects in this recording are among the few remnants left behind— a sonic memory of what no longer exists, a way for them to tell each other and remind us of the past.
"I wanted to compose a piece using this recording, sampling moments from it and adding a few atmospheric synth sounds. Together, they invite listeners to imagine different pasts while reflecting on history and possible futures."
Desert insects at Paquime reimagined by Shachaf Polakow.
———————
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