Waiting for Hypnos
"An ambient piece of dropping off to sleep to the sound of waves." River Thames boat traffic reimagined by Simon Woods. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
6m Sep 30, 2023
6m
A pharaoh's dance
"The fact that this was recorded in Egypt triggered thoughts of pyramids and pharoahs. The rhythmic feeling and the crackling sounds felt percussive to me so i sampled it, processed and used it as a drum track basically. The piece starts with the original recording through an alien type processor then the sampled sound kicks in. Other voices slowly join in.The slow tempo is soporific and i am v...
5m Sep 30, 2023
5m
Under the stream
Occasionally, I find solace in submerging hydrophones beneath the gentle currents of flowing rivers, longing to perceive the world as a fish does, attuned to the symphony of water. The Rugova Mountains in Kosovo proved to be the perfect haven, devoid of human presence for miles on end, allowing nature to unfold exclusively for my own delight. Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Music for Sl...
10m Sep 30, 2023
10m
Abandoned mine cave
Water dripping inside a cave of a abandoned mine in my area. The acoustic properties of a cave eliminates any traffic, airplanes or other sounds and the natural reverb is just so calming and serene to me. Recorded by Ben Reichstein. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
2m Sep 30, 2023
2m
Song thrush by the River Thames
A song thrush sings its complicated songs in a tree high above the River Thames in rural Oxfordshire, captured on a hot, close summer's day. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
2m Sep 30, 2023
2m
Biplane and birdsong
An old-style biplane flies overhead, as some light city noise intrudes gently into a recording of birdsong and passing, buzzing insects in an eco-park in central Oxford, a city much beloved for its many urban green spaces, parks, gardens and nature reserves. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, v...
7m Sep 30, 2023
7m
Croatian sea
The gentle, repetitive sound of the sea can induce a state of relaxation and reduce stress. The rhythmic nature of the waves can be meditative, allowing your mind to focus on the sound and let go of racing thoughts or worries that might keep you awake. Recorded by Roberto Vodanovic. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit h...
4m Sep 30, 2023
4m
The throb of boat traffic
The low throb of almost constant boat and ship traffic on the Thames in central London creates a relaxing background low-end drone to sit benath the highly active sounds of waves splashing and crashing against a set of stone steps leading down the river. The Thames at its most urban and industrial can still exude a strange kind of meditative calm. Recorded by Cities and Memory. Part of the Mu...
4m Sep 30, 2023
4m
The islands
This is the soundscape of a healthy coral reef in the Red Sea in Egypt called the “Islands”. Is actually made up of two huge coral formations which only break the surface at extremely low tides, which made it easy for me to capture such cathedral sound quality. It may sound like popcorns popping and hitting the lid of the pan, but the sound is actually produced by snapping shrimps. These small...
9m Sep 30, 2023
9m
Canadian storm
"Anton's recording of a night time storm in Ontario is excellent. He captures the drama of a distant storm catching up with the listener. As the thunder peals grew closer and the rain increased, I felt that intensity. "For the music score, I wanted to retain that sense of growth and power. It was also very important that the field recording not be overshadowed by the music. In order to achieve...
7m Sep 27, 2023
7m
The crucifer's cradle song
"This source recording came from Little Ontario, Canada, but growing up in Southeastern Louisiana I was very familiar with the chorus of peeper frogs emanating from the night swamp. I used the frog calls to build a subtle, repetitive, rhythmic drone that is the backbone of the piece, while rolling melodic and harmonic phrases imitate the twinkling of stars through the clouds in the night sky. I...
9m Sep 27, 2023
9m
Edge of water
"I love the sound of water and the complex textures that are produced in the vast and infinite combinations of tides, currents, swirling eddies and lapping shores. This beautifully captured recording of gentle water was too perfect to resist. After several listening sessions I simply allowed the flow of the water to guide this composition." Ontario pebble beach reimagined by Tom Thompson. Par...
7m Sep 27, 2023
7m
Womb Eyre
"The original hydrophone recording made me think of what it must be like to be within a womb, and this inspired the composition, with the heartbeat and other sounds that may be within or without the womb, all helping to ease the fall into sleep." Ontario hydrophone stream recording reimagined by clusterfact. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds fr...
5m Sep 27, 2023
5m
Awenda Berceuse
"I wanted to honor Anton Pickard's beautiful field recording "Awenda Waves" in its wholeness, so the idea of playing a lullaby by the water emerged early on. As a counterpoint to his sound I used my own recording of a 432Hz A drone (played as harmonic on the D-string on a double bass and slightly tuned down from 440Hz) that is sustained throughout the entire composition. Additionally, there are...
17m Sep 27, 2023
17m
A pond full of fax machines
"The composition takes a departure from traditional musical structures, embracing the realm of abstract and free-form musical experience. At its core lies the new granular engine of the Microfreak Synthesizer, which ignited a sonic adventure of inspiration. "The piece is comprised of two live recordings. The first part is a tranquil drone-focused jam, with embedded elements from the field reco...
7m Sep 27, 2023
7m
Insects, frogs and humans party instead of sleeping
"A rhymical piece with plenty of Guiro action." Insects in Bolivia reimagined by Simon Woods. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
4m Sep 27, 2023
4m
Thunder to heavy rain
Thunder to heavy rain - backyard recording. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
The sirens of sleep
"The original sample was a recording of ocean waves as heard in Belize. Sleep imagined as water is a very inspiring vision. But this brought the Sirens to my mind. Dangerous, mythical creatures that may allure you to join them in the waters and stay there forever. What if something in your dreams would try to keep you there forever? Would it be tempting or scary? Both, I guess. And such is the ...
5m Sep 27, 2023
5m
Underwater sounds from a stream
Location: Corrie Hamelin Park, Tiny Township, Ontario, Canada. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Waves at Awenda Provincial Park
Waves recorded on the shores of Georgian Bay at Awenda Provincial Park. The waves are restful - recorded as a wide soundfield. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Peepers peeping
Peeper frogs mating calls - the calls are more individual with gaps in the recording. Recorded at the side of a gravel road at night. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/ image: Peter Paplanus, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>...
6m Sep 27, 2023
6m
Peeper frogs in the spring
This is a recording made of Peeper frogs in a marsh at night. This is a mating call that happens during a very short season in the Spring. The high whistles at a low volume can be very relaxing and hypnotic. Recorded at the Tiny Marsh Conservation area in Tiny, Ontario. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the colle...
16m Sep 27, 2023
16m
Waves on a pebble beach
Waves on a pebble beach - Awenda Provincial Park. Recorded by Anton Pickard. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
20m Sep 27, 2023
20m
Insects and frogs at Yacuma River
Insects and frogs at midnight in the jungles of Bolivian Amazonia create a beautiful symphony that gets me in the mood for relaxing or taking a long nap. Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
3m Sep 27, 2023
3m
Small waves at Placencia
Small waves at the beach in Placencia, Belize. I find this sound very relaxing cause its natural slow rhythm and its wonderful stereo panning creating a mild flanger. Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
2m Sep 27, 2023
2m
Hypnagogia
"I was instantly drawn to Alan Cook's recording of waves crashing into the sea wall rocks at Port Noarlunga in South Australia. I manipulated the original field recording in such a way as to reimagine the state of wakefulness leading to sleep, otherwise known as hypnagogia. As well as working with the original field recording, I added various synthesiser parts to the composition." Port Noarlun...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Adriatic moons
"Adriatic Moons is an explorative-ambient composition inspired and incorporating a field recording by Rafael Diogo from Kororez bay, Albania. After researching the location of recording, the cyclical nature of the tides and circadian rhythms - sonic convolution and granular synthesis were applied to the source sounds and the piece was composed around the ebb and flow of the tidal movement. "Th...
7m Sep 26, 2023
7m
Krorez Bay Berceuse
"For this project, I left the field recording largely intact because the pulse of the crashing waves already felt like being rocked to sleep. Listening to it felt like breathing. I wanted to create music that reflected this peaceful feeling of being lulled to sleep. I think low frequencies can be relaxing so I employed a rocking motion that reflected the pulse of the waves in the bass, but kept...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Lullaby89
"Inspired by the already profound sense of calm the field recording instilled in me, I added a few simple sound beds and wove in some minimal piano notes to create a serene soundscape that will (hopefully) help gently lull the listener into a state of gentle slumber." Belarus bird tower reimagined by Jenn Howd. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Midnight Thunder
"Sounds of rain and birds layered with non-linear hardware synths improvisation. Recorded during the midnight thunderstorm in the forest not far from the field recording area." Belarus bird tower reimagined by nWave. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
8m Sep 26, 2023
8m
Watery winds
"The sounds of the Albanian Lengarica Canyon inspired me to create this piece where the gentle murmurs of the river intertwine harmoniously with the ethereal notes of a bass flute and electronic sounds, conjuring a tranquil ambiance. My adjustments to the field recording have been minimal, preserving its raw essence. The sustained, airy notes are thoughtfully woven throughout, guiding the liste...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
A place of longing
"The source field recording of waves washing over Albanian rocks conjured the beauty of both white noise and organic tidal repetition, that was kept entirely in tact as the foundation of the work, adding the sounds of twilight birds giving way to cicadas in the swelter of a night in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. "I added gongs and bells recorded from the Longplayer project at the listening post at ...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
"Night falls again and again" (music for Lyra 8, organ and hypnagogic states)
"I wanted the sea to bridge the work and thought of the reimagined piece as being a number of destinations on the way to falling asleep. I, like many have to work hard to fall asleep, either counting backwards from 10,000, breathing exercises to settle or achieving a state of exhaustion through exercise. Anything to escape the screen and interruptions to "healthy sleep habits" being formed. I u...
10m Sep 26, 2023
10m
Një endërr Gjipe (a dream of Gjipe)
"The field recording is from Gjipe, a secluded beach on the Albanian Riviera. The piece, Një Ëndërr Gjipe (A Dream of Gjipe), draws on the whispers of the sea communicating with us, drawing us into a sleepy dreamy state, the ebb and flow of the soft piano mimicking the sea lulling us into this serene reverie." Gjipe waves reimagined by Moray Newlands. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
The sea wall
Ocean surging against sea wall rocks. Recorded by Alan Cook. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://citiesandmemory.com/music-for-sleep/
18m Sep 26, 2023
18m
Bird tower
While staying in the village, the best time for sleeping is when it is raining. This recording was made by myself during a sound expedition with ornithologist Vitaly Kosheev. We where planning to record the signing of cranes that where on the other side of the lake, but rain started and they didn't sign at all. Recorded by Anton Anischanka. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more infor...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Stream flows softly
While hiking along the unexplored paths of Lengarica Canyon in Albania, one cannot help but be awestruck by the gentle murmur of small river streams. These delicate sounds weave a soothing melody, creating crystal-clear natural pools along the way. As you pause to admire the breathtaking majesty of the canyon's limestone walls, a sense of wonder envelops you, immersing you in nature's grandeur....
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Cave-crashing waves
It is a truly captivating experience to listen to the gentle caress of waves as they tenderly kiss the shoreline, and then extend their affectionate touch to embrace the caves within the canyon. This rhythmic dance, a back-and-forth response to the water's elemental embrace, unfolds in the remote splendour of Gjipe Canyon in Albania. It is a harmonious symphony that epitomizes the enchantment o...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Rocky shores
The melodic sound of waves gracefully traversing through rocky crevices along the coastline of Krorez Bay awakens the senses. The rhythmic movement of the water produces a refreshing symphony that entices anyone to rise and behold the captivating expanse of the sea. This remote location in Albania beckons with its serene allure. Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Music for Sleep project - ...
6m Sep 26, 2023
6m
Gentle waves
The melodic sound of gentle waves upon the shoreline orchestrates a serene dance on this blissfully warm day. Here I stand, alone, amidst a captivating desert coastline — one of the hidden gems nestled in the remote corners of Albania. To reach this secluded paradise, one must embark upon a journey either by boat or through an arduous trek that demands a few hours of dedication. Recorded by Ra...
4m Sep 26, 2023
4m
Night falls over the sea
The nightfall over Gjipe’s Canyon is an experience in itself, where the waves gracefully dance to the rhythm of the nocturnal sea breeze. It is a solitude soundscape, an enchanting symphony that echoes through the untamed wilderness of Albania. Recorded by Rafael Diogo. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear more sounds from the collection, visit https://cities...
5m Sep 26, 2023
5m
Coastal whispers
When the sea communicates in whispers, it is in those moments that the sea breeze gracefully embraces and hushes the bustling sounds of the ocean, crafting a serene and delicate soundscape. This melodic symphony, found along the coastline of Gjipe, hidden within the remote canyons of Albania, possesses the power to lull one into a state of tranquility, inducing a sleepy and dreamy ambience. Re...
2m Sep 26, 2023
2m
Watch your step as you exit the dream
"The piece is an attempt to represent my peculiar sleep experiences in recent months. I perform as a percussionist with the band Foals and when the Music For Sleep project was announced I was midway through a 5 week tour of the US. Instinctively, I selected a field recording made back in my hometown of Oxford. During the tour I've so often fallen asleep on various modes of transport, dreaming o...
4m Sep 24, 2023
4m
LWRCS (listen when requiring calm sleep)
"The inspiration for »lwrcs« was mainly driven by the feedback-like howling of the wind in the original field recording. It’s rich in frequencies but also has something eerie yet warm to it. When being played silently it sounds like a sung melody. Digital and analog feedback loops and warm tape noise create the framework for the heavily processed fragments of the field recording. Here and there...
15m Sep 24, 2023
15m
Draw breath
"How does one create a sound to help others to sleep and not make it tedious? I enjoyed the "bubbling, hot pool" of Tim Kahn's field recording and tried to create something that takes someone on an exploration but can also possibly induce a feeling of calm and serenity." Field, Oregon hot pools reimagined by Bill McKenna. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to hear ...
6m Sep 24, 2023
6m
In true sounds
"The recording, a waterfall, reminded me of the white noise I would sometimes use to block intrusive noise to help me sleep and where I might have imagined I would like to have been. I live in a city and use to work as a paramedic. Attempting to sleep in the day, or to suffer insomnia at night was challenging, there was much noise and I could feel the vibration and sound of construction and hea...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m
Ripples on the surface of the absolute
"Since first reading about the Music for Sleep theme for this project, I have spent quite a bit of time talking to friends and family about their sleep patterns and the techniques they use to help them get to sleep. I have also been doing some reading on the sounds, tones and patterns that can sometimes help people achieve the state of being asleep. Within “Ripples on the Surface of the Absolut...
19m Sep 24, 2023
19m
Into the woods (one minute warning for Jamie Bell)
"When I consider 'music for sleep' I immediately consider water and 'less is more'. This piece contains my own continuous field recordings of the Holy Brook (flowing through Devon) in real time (recorded on 30/07/2023 with Sony PCM D100) featuring sounds presented by Jamie Bell." Glasgow woods reimagined by Tulse Hill Fields. Part of the Music for Sleep project - for more information and to h...
20m Sep 24, 2023
20m
The transition
"This piece is a playful attempt to portray hypnagogia in an individual entering an increasingly hallucinogenic resting state. Here we have a front row seat in witnessing the sounds of body rhythms and firing neurons meshing with the fleeting perception of environmental sounds as awareness eventually slips away from perceived material existence." Oxfordshire woods reimagined by Gerald Fratzl (...
6m Sep 24, 2023
6m
Oxford to eternity
"The soft thunder and rain and birdsong in the recording were so transportive, I wanted to tint that environment with a drowsy theme that loops in one’s mind while drifting into sleep. I kept the original recording and layered in another copy at half speed to add to this dreamy state and to allow the bird melodies to be drawn out into melancholy cries. The entire piece is a loop itself, and can...
3m Sep 24, 2023
3m