Cities And Memory

"The story of how the original recording first reflected with the city and the intensity of the rain reminded me of the different interactions one makes with a city at first glance. The first impression of a city makes a large impact. In my composition, I wanted to enhance this feeling of first impressions. "I used field recordings I took when I originally visited Lisbon, and my impression mixed with the field recording of the Lisbon rain storm. I then used the melodic content of the embedded field recordings and harmonized with the soundscapes of the city to enhance this impression. "I think this approach lends a magical feeling to the first impression the soundscape of a new environment leaves, in order to make one more cognizant to the soundscape of a new city." | Lisbon rainstorm reimagined by Andrew Ramsey. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migrati

"In Canto IV of the Inferno, Dante introduces Limbo with the sound of "sospiri" (sighs, that made th' eternal air / Tremble [..]). This is where the innocent souls of the unbaptised reside for eternity. "Seven centuries later we're turning fiction into reality. People, whose only fault was being born on the wrong side of the powers to be are sentenced to a grotesque, heartbreaking punishment." Kigali airport arrival reimagined by figurehead. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration IMAGE: Abhishek Singh from Pune, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

"I moved to Scotland with my family around 10 years ago; a migration from England to North of the border. I had visited Scotland many times previously and always felt a longing to move here because of the sense of calm and freedom it gave me. Visits to the Hebridean Islands were central to these experiences, knowing the holiday had truly begun once the ferry had left port. I wanted my family to also experience this and so we now visit the Islands regularly. "This recording was made when we boarded the ferry from Scarinish on Tiree bound for Oban on the Scottish mainland. What can be heard really sums up the feelings of happiness and expectation I used to have coming to Scotland as a younger man. In the recording you can hear the ferry disembarking with sounds of the engine as well as the safety announcements over the tannoy. The authentic Scottish Islander accent of the female announcer followed by the Gaelic translation is of particular importance as it gives a true connection to place and community." Rec

"The UK government has been trying to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for the last couple of years (as of 2024). This is the announcement of a RwandarAir flight arriving in Kigali from London. "It is the first thing that future asylum seekers will hear when arriving to their new home based on current government plans (at the time of recording). Recorded by Carlos Vargas-Silva. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration IMAGE: Abhishek Singh from Pune, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

"Now I live in the center of Moscow, next to the highway (for 5 years already). There is continuous road noise nearby. And it's very similar to another sound. "Before Moscow I used to live in Vietnam (7 years) near the sea and there was also the noise - the sustained and continuous sound of the sea. My note: the sounds have a different nature: one is natural, the other is industrial. The common denominator is sound volume and continuity. And there is a rhythm. By the sea it is a wave that grows and then collapses. The flow of cars has a rhythm regulated by traffic lights. "It's nice to notice how I can control attention: I can listen to it out loud or not notice it at all." Recorded by Lara Levi. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"I'm originally Hungarian but I have lived in Lisbon, Portugal for many years. Elsewhere, I've never experienced such intense, warm rainfalls which turn the streets into little rivers, the urban scenario into biblical floods. This is a rainy Atlantic afternoon from my window. Recorded by Linda Koncz. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"I come from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. In 2015, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded and Crimea was annexed, I made the decision to immigrate to Poland, eventually settling in Krakow. One of my earliest experiences in my new home took place during a solitary walk along the Vistula River. "The night was serene, yet my mind was occupied with questions: Where am I? What am I doing here? Why is this happening to me? As I stood under the Kotlarski bridge, the quietude was occasionally interrupted by the sounds of passing cars, intensifying my feelings of anxiety and displacement. "Then, a tram passed overhead, its rumble echoing through the night. In that moment, amidst the overwhelming noise, I found solace. I realized that despite the uncertainty surrounding me, the most important person in my life was beside me, offering comfort and support. "In the months that followed, I learned that the Polish word "most" translates to "bridge." This symbolizes the connection between my past in Ukraine and my present in P

"My piece 'Electric Pier' uses and is inspired by a recording of a noisy squeaking pier in Bangkok. The pier is acted upon by the forces of a river and has a bustling city as its backdrop. The squeaking sounds of the pier are full of small and expressive micro phrases that serve as atmospheric wails or else irregular rhythmic cells effusing otherworldly melodies.  "By combining the field recording with beats, synth instruments and noise electronics, I imagine in 'Electric Pier' a buzzing and colourful futurism where nature and the metropolis are juxtaposed." Sathorn pier, Bangkok reimagined by Alex Pozniak.

"I was inspired by the text accompanying this recording of a roundabout in the Philippines. I felt the whole experience of migrating, travelling and coming back to a place that is not really home anymore was perfectly described in this text. I took my "scissors", picked the more meaningful words, and played with that material to recompose a sort of poem.  "I added to the field recording the circular sound of a wind chime with a floating delay ( paraphrasing the text in sound). After a moment I reversed all the sounds, as if returning home was like rewinding a cassette and introduced some errors into the poem."  Philippines roundabout recording reimagined by Christine Renaudat. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration IMAGE: Benson Kua, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

"This sound was recorded in October 2023 in Bethlehem, Palestine, so I initially had a difficult time deciding how to use it. However, after taking in the sound a few times in its entirety I decided that it creates an auditory scene of everyday life in a place that since suffered so much devastation.  "I chose snippets of the sound that sound like regular interactions and conversations, especially the sounds of human voices and isolated them as each human voice represented a human character and a memory of a instant. I used them throughout the piece matched with a few sets of modal of musical loops and rhythms. I used the audio both played with a high added reverb and resonance, as well as in reverse."  Bethlehem soundscape reimagined by Janae Jean. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

""Fragments of Palestine" reflects a serene sound bath—a peaceful mantra designed to manifest peace and solidarity with Palestine. The composition weaves together drone sounds and organic healing instruments, naturally blending with the everyday sounds that depict the struggle of a resilient nation that has been without a homeland for a prolonged period.  "The heart of the recording is a vivid soundscape of a bus journey through Palestine, acting as the guiding thread that carries the mantra through the authentic sounds of daily life in the barrios of Palestine.  "This piece is a culmination of my sound explorations in the region, captured right before the recent events."  Bethlehem soundscape reimagined by Deep Dive Sound. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"At first what captured my attention was the richness of the all the voices from children, woman and man. So the focus is on the voices, everything is based on that. Aside from the drone and occasional percussions, most of the sounds are heavily treated vocals. Next, I liked the organic side of the market's ambiance, therefore some live percussions was added. I deliberately left out the song captured in fhe field recording provided to avoid any copyright issues.  "I basically extracted and isolated into separate tracks all voices, noises, wind, artifacts and ambience. Multiple different combinaison of effects was permanently applied on each tracks. Everything was imported into the DAW (Ableton), then I selected some sections of every category and applied more effects depending of the result needed. The drone and percussions we're added to complete the picture. Selected tracks were imported into the Zoom F3 and sent simultaneously in stereo to 2 different mono effects (Chase Bliss Mood on the left channel, Dr

"Bethlehem exists in duality: both as a real city and an imaginary notion in the minds of so many throughout different locations and cultures across the world. Those people who actually set foot there can be present for all number of reasons, but the thing that stood out to me from the field recording was its normality - the honk of the car horns, children’s voices … but above all, the sound of commerce taking place. The goods on sale may vary in bazaars around the world, but this is a place like any other, where humans come together to exchange all manner of things - and that includes Sami’s special tea.  "I approached the composition from the position of wanting the sound of the city to infuse the feel of the track. I used a range of traditional instrumentation from the general region, but used a musical language that I’m more familiar with. In the alleyways, the sound would be more all-encompassing and reverberant. I found a clip of a boy speaking which sounded very like he was saying “Wake Up”. So that u

"What immediately drew me to this recording was the profound gentleness, tenderness and warmth that could be felt in it. I wasn't able to transcribe the entire conversation, so I only have a rough idea of what the mother and daughter were talking about. That's why I decided to leave the entire recording in its full length. I only removed some parts with background noise, processed the recording, and used some elements (the sound of the timer and the camera) as audio components. "I wanted to give the whole composition a nostalgic feel. Therefore, I used analog synthesizer sounds like the Mellotron and processed analog sounds, as well as tape delay wherever necessary. "Personally, I don't have experience as a migrant, but the theme of parting and memories of happy moments spent together is close to everyone who has been separated from their loved ones for any reason. Perhaps we are truly physically distant? Perhaps our loved ones are deceased? Or maybe we are physically close but so emotionally distant that w

I took this recording on 29 March 2024, Good Friday, Holy Week when is God is dead. I walked around the roundabout of Pio del Pilar barangay hall, which is close to where I currently live. Barangay is the smallest local government unit in the Philippines and came from the pre-colonial word balangay which were traditional boats in the Philippines. When I was growing up in a small town, a former fishing village outside Metro Manila, Good Friday means that we are not allowed to take showers despite the tropical heat and humidity. Establishments are closed. Children should not be unruly, and generally, everyone should stay at home because there is no God watching over. Crucified, he is suffering in pain on this day. The sound recorded here is supposed to be a quieter 8:30 evening than usual. The laundromat, the karinderya, and the sari-sari store are all closed. You will hear dogs barking, supposedly domesticated. There is a sound that appears like birds chirping, but I am unsure about this because they could be

"The city of Bethlehem is situated atop a hill at the edge of the Judaean desert, creating a unique blend of cultures. Bedouin from the desert interact with pilgrims in its town market and navigate its narrow, ancient streets.  "This recording captures the ambiance of the "souq", the traditional marketplace located in the city's Old Core. The Souq is a confluence of vernacular units where farmers and merchants sell fruits, vegetables, and various merchandise, particularly during the early morning hours. Farmers from nearby villages such as Battir and Artas gather to sell their fresh produce, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of this historic marketplace in Palestine.  Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"Bethlehem is situated on the West Bank, a part of Palestine; however, Israel has retained control of entrances and exits. During periods of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as the current situation, the city has witnessed numerous confrontations. "Due to Christian emigration, Bethlehem now has a Muslim majority, and the atmosphere feels tense. Israel's construction of the separation wall has had a severe impact on Bethlehem's economy and the movements of its residents. The barrier runs along the city's northern side, mere meters from houses, exacerbating the challenges faced by the community, as you may perceive from this recording."  Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"In the historic district of Bethlehem, visitors can easily immerse themselves in the maze of narrow alleys. Charming tiny houses and shops adorned with Arab-patterned carpets create a picturesque scene, complemented by colorful doors. The delightful soundscape of this area was captured around Manara Square. "Just beyond the bustling central Manger Square, a congregation of stands awaits, where vendors offer a variety of Arab pastries, clothing, and nuts. Amidst the lively atmosphere, you'll find a charming alleyway where a friendly man named Sami sells his special tea, a beloved local favourite." Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

My mother and I converse about anything and everything while preparing a meal. It is the ordinary moments like these that I cherish the most in my memories of my mother, who lives in what I like to call a distant 'island in an island'.  This recording was made in the summer of 2023, during my visit to Aotearoa, my second homeland, after ten years of living abroad. Our native language mixes with English words, enveloped by the melodious and excited kitchen appliances.  Recorded by Hee-Jin Kim. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration

"This recording captures my journey from Palestine back to Israel on an empty bus, which took about two hours or more and involved passing through a few checkpoints along the way.  "Life under Israeli control is notably felt in Bethlehem, where an 8-meter-tall concrete separation barrier was constructed by Israel in 2002. The stated purpose was to prevent suicide bombings and attacks, but it is widely criticized for violating international law and subjecting Palestinians to live like small communities of prisons, leading to a challenging way of life. "While my experience as a foreigner made the journey relatively easy, Palestinians residing in the West Bank face the requirement of applying for a permit to enter East Jerusalem. This adds an additional layer of complexity and restriction to the daily lives of the Palestinian population." Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.  For more information and to explore the pro