Cities And Memory

"The chime of the clock tower resounding everyday at 8.15, the time when mankind received its baptism of the atomic bomb for the first time" - https://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/virtual/map-e/irei/tour_07_e.html Hiroshima Peace Memorial reimagined by Alex Vald. ——————— 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

"I’ve always been deeply fascinated by the sonic characteristics of sacred spaces. One of my very first experiences of field recording was walking into St. Paul’s Cathedral in London equipped with a pair of binaural microphones and recording the choral evensong. That night a change in how I perceived sound occurred, as if revealing an alternate dimension. I have since visited many different spiritual spaces - Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines whilst recording in Japan for the British Library Sound Archive and visiting many of the beautiful French churches and cathedrals in Provence where I now reside. I have immersed myself in listening to the subtle atmospheres of these spaces and appreciating how their fragile sonic fragments contribute to creating such intimate listening environments. "In working with this recording, originally recorded by Colin Hunter at Chartres Cathedral on the outskirts of Paris, I was drawn to its sparseness. I had the opportunity to visit this cathedral last summer and remarke

"I am always astounded by the ephemeral nature of what unfolds on bridges and so this is what initially drew me to this recording. Are the people walking this bridge walking it for the first time? Did some of the people crossing bear witness to its destruction during the Croat-Bosniak War and eventual rebuilding of it? This bridge in particular represents the coming together and reconciliation of the international community, something we are deeply seeking during current times. It is reflective of the complex history of the region, and the willingness to rebuild what had been destroyed. The sounds of those crossing it become a part of the history of this bridge, a sonic brick that is added to this unique place. I believe that the significance of such liminal spaces is highlighted in the continuous activation of them. What’s more incredible is the reflection of the bridge over the Neretva river. When viewed from off the bridge it completes a circle, a whole that can only exist by coming together. "I wanted to

This ambience was recorded just after the annual remembrance service at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Chartres Cathedral. UNESCO listing: Chartres Cathedral Recorded by Colin Hunter. ——————— 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

Despite its relatively small size (330 sq km), Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the world’s population of wild mountain gorillas. As of 2018, the mountain gorilla was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Thankfully, conservation efforts have led to an increase in numbers and the overall population is now believed to be at more than 1,000 individuals. During my time observing the mountain gorillas we spent around one hour in the company of the Oruzogo group, led by Bakwate, the dominant alpha Silverback. In this recording we hear Bakwate vocalising with two females of the group. UNESCO listing: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Recorded by Colin Hunter. ——————— 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

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) is one of the most recognisable symbols of the dropping of the first atomic bomb. However, just across the river is the Peace Clock Tower which chimes every day at 8:15am - the exact time the first atomic bomb was dropped on a human population and changed the world forever. In 1996, it was selected by the Japanese Environment Agency as one of the "One Hundred Sounds the Japanese People Wish to Preserve."  The first 45 seconds of the recording captures ambient sounds from the location on December 6, 2024 – birds, the hum of traffic, people passing on their way to work. Then at 8:15am exactly, the chimes of the atomic clock begin – as they have done since 1967 when the clock was constructed. They last less than 1 minute but remind us of a moment in time that should never be forgotten – both for those who suffered horribly from it, and for our own future survival. The remainder of the recording returns to the sounds of modern Hiroshima progressing into the future.  U

"When played on speakers, the sound is very full, creating a depth of frequencies that inspired us to go with an ambient piece that we feel accompanies it very well.  "We think our sound reflects the advantage being taken of some countries by tourists, paying little respect to the original culture or seeing the culture as a fun getaway experience.  "There is not a personal story behind the piece but we feel very strongly about the cause. "Now, as we look upon our creation, we reflect on the depth of the piece and are proud of our work." Topkapi reimagined by DBO. ——————— 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

"I've been to the Wakamiya Shrine so I had a clear visual in mind as I listened to the field recording of bird song and sweeping. A monk sweeping at a shrine seems like a reflection of their devotion. It also seems like a meditative activity. Sweep and let your thoughts pass. Just put your mind to sweeping. Musically I tried to find my way into a meditation of sorts; using note patterns, drones, and oscillations." Nara shrine reimagined by Eulipion Corps. ——————— 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

"With open source AI software (Ultimate Vocal Remover) I separated the voices from the percussion so I was able to treat those separately. Unfortunately due to resolution and complexity of the recording the stems came not out the way I hoped.  "I also had difficulties getting the tracks properly warped/quantized and I needed to harmonize the audio to be able to add additional instruments. The results I got were not what I had in mind and by trying out different solutions I got stuck in one direction. Also my computer started suffering blue screens of death. So I was on the brink of giving up. "I chose this recording because I have a long time fascination with traditional music of the Hue people in Vietnam. I wanted to make this into a epic meditation inspired by the spiritual sounds of Alice Coltrane." Chanting in Hue reimagined by Robert Kroos. ——————— 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: h

The Kasuga Taisha Shrine is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO site in Japan and one of the top tourist attractions in Japan. However, if you are there during the off season, and early enough in the morning, it is possible to find moments reminiscent of how it must have been in the 8th century when the shrine was constructed. This recording was made on 13 December, 2024 and captures a monk (or perhaps temple worker) sweeping the stairs to the Wakamiya Shrine with a traditional-style broom. He would sweep the length of one stair in its entirety, then return to the start, move down a step, then sweep the next step in its entirety. You can hear the hum of the city of Nara in the background as well as several different bird species that inhabit the forest in which the shrine is embedded. UNESCO listing: Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Recorded by Lisa Germany.  ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights. Find out mo

The recording of Istanbul’s 15th-century Topkapı Palace captures the heartbeat of a space steeped in history and legacy. Once the administrative core and residence of Ottoman sultans, this iconic palace now serves as a museum and library, inviting the world to step into its grandeur. The palace’s atmosphere unfolds here - a vivid collage of layered sounds. Visitors murmur in countless languages, their footsteps weaving through the courtyards. Tour guides narrate centuries-old stories, while distant echoes of scripture readings and archival texts enrich the air, connecting past to present. A moment of singing drifts gently, adding a spiritual tone that feels timeless and poignant, a reminder of the palace’s role as a place of governance and reflection. Listening to this, one can feel the profound duality of Topkapı - its' serenity mingling with the bustling energy of the modern world. For me, the soundscape evokes a sense of awe. It’s as though the walls hold their breath, still resonating with the lives, de

This recording captures Buddhist monks chanting at the Tu Hieu Pagoda, a Nguyen Dynasty-era Buddhist temple in Hue, Vietnam. UNESCO listing: Complex Of Hue Monuments Recorded by Colin Hunter. ——————— 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

“The composition is made up of bell samples cut from the original field recordings. No other sounds were used. They have been cut, filtered, echoed, reversed and extensive reverberation added to create a dream like quality, but maybe verging on a nightmare." La Merced bells reimagined by Simon Woods. ——————— 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

"I loved the accordion melodies in the field recording so I wanted to use one of those as a basis of the new piece and overlay other instruments over it. I tried to capture the joy of the original recording and add a slightly repetitive bass line to help push it along." Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest reimagined by Richard Watts. ——————— 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

The Ohrid region, a gem of Macedonia, is defined by its serene lake and vibrant cultural heritage. Sitting in a lakeside bodega, I was enveloped by the gentle rhythm of daily life: the soft lapping of water, the murmurs of locals, and the occasional laughter of children. This timeless place is a reminder of life’s simple yet profound beauty. UNESCO listing: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region  Recorded by Rafael Diogo. ——————— 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

The Halászbástya or Fisherman's Bastion is one of the most recognisable monuments in Budapest, and a major tourist attraction, not just for the beauty of the space itself, but for the views of the city it affords.  As such, it's buzzing with people, and where there are tourists, there are local musicians, street vendors and so on. This recording captures multiple accordion players playing traditional tunes among the crowds of tourists.  Recorded by Cities and Memory.  ——————— 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

"What stood out to me in the recording were two main things, firstly was the tour guide, specifically when she says the line "but he always wanted to be buried in the new world" and the other was the organ part, which comes in at the end of the recording. The organ is in the recording as part of a wedding ceremony, and you can really imagine what its like to be in Seville in the cathedral.  "The whole track takes inspiration from love in a marriage but represents the warmth and being relaxed in Spain. The field recording is played in the background of the track for most of the track, and some parts (when the tour guide says the line) have been processed by AI to isolate the vocals. I distorted the sound at the end as symbolism that love doesn't always last." Seville Cathedral reimagined by Greg Dainty.  ——————— 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

La Merced Bells at Antigua. Stereo 48Khz 24bit. Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. ——————— 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

"This is the first spoken piece I’ve done for Cities and Memory. I found listening to the bells at the Peter and Paul Fortress in St Petersburg made me think back to when I’d lived there in the mid-90s. It was a life changing time for me as a sheltered 22 year old student discovering the city during a time of massive economic and social upheaval.  "This piece is recounting the events of a single night where despondency turned into joy in the space of an hour. As I say in the piece, I have loved Russia for 30 years, but I don’t know if I’ll ever go back there now. It’s changed too much. "Musically, I wanted the simplicity and warmth of bells to be met with simple, warm electronic sounds to make something wistful and slightly sad. But there’s joy in there too. Same as my memories of the place." River Neva, St. Petersburg reimagined by Dermot Fitzsimons.  ——————— 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 pro

"My first thought was it would be challenging to compose a track. Field recording was recorded in north Macedonia. It’s mainly speech, women and children voices inside home. There is also accordion very far in the background. They speak Macedonian language. It gave me the opportunity to read about this country where poverty rate is very high. My composition would be a little nostalgic, but not sad to match the intimate ambiance, and voices. "I didn’t want to alter or mangle beautiful voices of kids and women (even if I don’t understand Macedonian). "So I told me a little story to help me: Lets pretend some documentary film maker asked me to compose a theme tune for the end or opening credits. There is music over location sound of the imaginary film. "I've been working with a Digital Audio Workstation, recording, mixing and mastering. Doing field recordings myself, I am familiar with extracting sounds and cleaning them without too much alteration. I selected voices and ambient atmosphere. My additional elem