Raising giants

" was inspired by the human presence, so transient and passing in relation to the constant swirl of the sea and wind. I liked the sound of the natural forces and began to think of power, giants, myths, and stories given to landscape.

"When I first heard the sound I was in Llanberis in North Wales, I spend a lot of time there, and often walk through another heritage site, Dinorwig Slate Quarry, an excavation into the mountain, Elidir. When the conditions are right we can see the Irish coastline from the quarry and I began to imagine a dialogue between the scarred Elidir and Fionn Mac Cumhaill, calling across the sea.

"I was conscious of the difference between the two sites, one a natural formation, with its basalt columns, and the other man made, its slate exported worldwide. I wanted to respond with sounds generated locally by the elements. I was keen to use recordings I had gathered in the quarry - the wind through pipes and machinery left in situ - and also the 'organ pipe' like formation of the basalt columns. I found the lowest notes on a chapel organ to give weight and resonance to the recording.

"I think the piece is rather more suggestive of a giant being gently woken than the conversation I originally imagined."


Giant's Causeway reimagined by Rachel Henaghan.

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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