Cities And Memory

"For the beautiful Section 4 of Flow, I wanted to celebrate the rewilding projects that took place between 2016 and 2022 under the LIFE Lech “Dynamic River System Lech” at Elmen-Nussau and Vorderhornbach."I was immediately inspired by the photo of the sound being recorded at the bridge. Imagining being in that moment, overlooking the meandering turquoise braids of water, the gravel beds and the dark green forests and wondering what the ecology of this area would be like and that I'd need to hike here one day. So I wanted to bring together an ecological sonic landscape."The river is played using a rainwater-filled glass harp, guided by the geomorphic imagery. Using a recurring motion of playing the top of a wine glass, I wanted to embody the water movement of the River Lech. Moving not as a straight line but more in swirls, spirals and circles, flowing left and right."Varying the level of rainwater in each glass created a scale of resonating frequencies that formed individual braids of the river. I found joy

Hope Carries Us | The moment I heard the section of the Lech that I ended up working with, I heard these beautiful overtones, and voices and decided I wanted to really bring that out in the piece. Listening to the field recording as I wrote the piece, it felt over time like a history of the river unfolding, the narrowing, the widening, the people using it for transportation in much earlier times, the nature adapting and claiming it's space, the people who settled nearby and a hope for the future. Section of the river Lech reimagined by Michelle Breslin/Lostworldsounds. Additional credits - Salma-Caller-rowing oars sound fragment.Singers - Adelaide and Madison Santos Julia Maja Scotch Camera, and Michelle Breslin.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

"To create this piece, I used the completely raw recording of segment 3. Then, I cut a few seconds from it and layered them, processing them with different filters, delay, and equalizer to create distinct textures. I also wanted to layer my own recording from inside the Rio Negro (the river in my hometown) to give another perspective to the subjective listening experience, as well as to understand what a river sounds like from the outside, as can be heard in the original recording. "I chose to accompany the entire piece with a drone using a pad synthesizer, playing with different tones and effects. I simply let my imagination run wild and experimented with different textures and tones, like when we are submerged in the depths of a river while the world outside keeps turning."Section of the river Lech reimagined by Rocío Colonizt. -------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of

"I used the data and story of the river section to structure my composition and build a narrative of the river's evolution through time. The composition is started with the sound of the field recording, which means to represent the river in it's free, unchanged state. "Then an attempt to manipulate the course of the river is being introduced, first through the coarse manipulation of the recording itself and then followed by more and more introduction of synthesized elements, which mirrors the even more sophisticated ways of controlling the river's flow until in the midpoint in which the river itself became cramped with man-made elements, mirroring it's current heavily regulated shape."The composition goes more intense and emotional as to depict the realization of heavily regulating river flow may lead to ecological crisis. Then, the man made elements fade out one by one before ending in free flowing river again, mirroring the attempt of naturalization. Upon researching the origin of the name of the Lech rive

"I was allocated a more traditional river recording of serene, meandering river (with agricultural sounds). This was the final “section” available in the allocation process after all other artists had chosen. A wild card approach. "My starting point was the splitting of the field recording into 16 evenly split samples. I then created using a Roland sp404 sampler, 16 x 1 minute loops where I could sculpt and create fragments of songs and melody sections. These featured a number of sounds from esoteric spring reverb feedback generators, sampling keyboards and white noise machines. The intention at this stage was to create 16 “streams” of sound that could be played live and interwoven like the currents in a river. Repeating the process ensured further degradation of sample, source material and traditional song structure. The remaining parts were then ready to be played live and put back together. Through the process of reforming loops, samples and layered sonic ephemera, the final track took shape and dominant

"At the source of the Lech River near Warth, water and machinery sound together."This piece grows from a field recording made close to the river, where flowing water blends with the steady drone and metallic clanking of a nearby ski chairlift. Rather than treating this as noise, it becomes the core of the music. The orchestra and percussion amplify its energy, unfolding wide harmonic fields and sharp rhythmic gestures."River, infrastructure, and time unfold within one shared sound world."Section of the river Lech reimagined by Paul Beaudoin. -------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

We followed the Lech for its entire length, watching it change through different phases. Here we witness its latest step, as it joins the Danube in its long trip across ten countries until it reaches the Black Sea.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

Of the many hydropower stations we found along the way this is the most impressive. Behind the enormous building towering over the Lech waters, a Y-shaped pipe collects and funnels the water used to generate electricity. The power of the water running under our feet, as the sound suggests, is terrifying.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

Füssen, a beautiful town nestled along the Lech, is famous for its proximity to the Neuschweinstein castle. What most of the tourists don't know is that it's also famous for its Geigenbauer, the violin makers. One of them, Gabriel Reinhold, was kind enough to invite us into his workshop and showed us how a slate of wood becomes a violin.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

Hiding between dense forest, in a narrow stretch of valley, we find a reservoir that looked like a secret, secluded place. One man unmoors his boat and rows away, barely rippling the tranquil waters, while birds sing all around us and a couple of swans loudly announce their take off.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

During our trip along the Lech we stopped, I believe, at every Wasserkraftwerk along the way. Each of them had something particular, either to the eye or to the ear. This sound of water could be a little mountain waterfall, but the humming of the power station in the background is telling us otherwise.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

 | Of the many reservoirs along the Lech, Forggensee is the largest. In summer it can get very busy, and the cruise boats are a controversial topic. When we visited, the holiday villages around its shores were deserted and a serene atmosphere dominated the area.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

The fish passage on this dam isn't particularly spectacular, it's a channel carved into the concrete under the road, but I found it particularly symbolic. The water is lapping peacefully, only the echo hints at the artificial nature of this structure, built to recreate conditions as natural as possible for the fish.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

The Augsburg Stadtpark is an enormous green area just south of the city of Augsburg. The calm waters of the canals criss-crossing the park are accompanied by the sound of families enjoying the Sunday afternoon at the park, while exotic animals from the nearby zoo make the atmosphere slightly surreal.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

As we leave the city of Augsburg, the river can take its space again, inviting people on its banks to enjoy some leisure time. Here the river snakes between alternating gravel banks, and a family plays with pebbles.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

Our arrival in Landsberg is met with four enormous steps over which the Lech flows, so loud and powerful my microphone could not handle it. I decide to record the lively sounds of a cafe in the Altstadt. Luckily, the bells start ringing, even though I wasn't expecting the kind of concert I was in for. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

 | We stopped in Epfach for lunch, and visited one of the many fish passages built around dams. It's noon, and the nearby church chimes to perfectly recreate the atmosphere of this charming villageRecorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

After driving along a dirt road marked by a "verboten" sign - thanks Google Maps! - we reach the last true natural part of the river Lech, before it gets tamed in the more densely populated stretch preceding the Danube. From up here the view is stunning, few sun rays pierce the clouds over a meander that looks like it's never changed for hundred of years.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

Reservoirs are artificial: they only exist because there's a dam to control the flow of the river. But most of them turn out to be hosting pristine nature, especially this one, which can be only reached by footRecorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.

The river runs its last few kilometres, going through a stretch of forest and one more dam. This sound is the river Lech's quiet goodbye.Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli.-------Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Memory. Explore the full project at https://citiesandmemory.com/flow.