Sueño de la Merced
“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’...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
A Macedonian gem
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...
7m Mar 23, 2025
7m
Halász
"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, explor...
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Spain love
"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. "Th...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
A collection of accordions
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 tradi...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
Russian house
"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 singl...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
La Merced bells at Antigua
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
29s Mar 23, 2025
29s
Violetta
"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 ...
3m Mar 23, 2025
3m
Ancient instruments at Chichen Itza
Handcraft seller imitates animal sounds with ancient instruments at Chichen Itza pyramids. Mono 44kHz 16bit. UNESCO listing: Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza 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
1m Mar 23, 2025
1m
Ammonite
"The sound of modern humyns chipping away at solid rock searching for ancient organisms that have been turned to stone through pressure and time... the percussion of tool use was the perfect place to start, maybe the use of tools is where the idea of instrumental music came from in the first place... thoughts of musical evolution as humyns evolved with as much slowness as the forces that turned...
14m Mar 23, 2025
14m
Fractured ceremonies
"This piece is based on a field recording of a drum and gong ensemble performance in Beijing's Forbidden City. In Chinese culture, such performances are traditionally associated with ceremonial events, including weddings, funerals, housewarmings, Lunar New Year celebrations, and dragon or lion dances. While the rhythms may initially seem repetitive, they are filled with intricate sonic textures...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
Digging for fossils
The Jurassic Coast is so called for its richness in terms of fossil finds and dinosaur discoveries, with this beach in Lyme Regis particularly well known for the huge number of ammonite fossils that can be found. In this recording as well as the waves and beach soundscape, you can hear the sound of dozens of people with chisels and homemade gear chippning away at rocks in the hope of discoverin...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Revue
"One of the aspects of the recording that struck me was how well the spaciousness of the amphitheatre was captured. I wanted to take the three main sounds (clapping, horns, voice) and see how those could be re-contextualized into something new and unexpected. It was clear to me that I wanted to use the recording as the only sound source. "All sounds you hear are from the original recording..in...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Corrida in Arles Roman Arena
This recording captures the atmosphere inside the Roman Arena in Arles, Southern France during a Corrida (bull fight). 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
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Elpis
"The field recording of the Church of the Acheiropoietos with its capture of someone speaking in this echoing sanctum, as well as intruding street noises, inspired me to combine synthesis techniques using vocal wavetables, expressive reed like synth tones, and futuristic modular synth elements. The juxtaposition of the modern with the past, and the sound of this sacred space, led me to title th...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
All the birds of Kyoto
"I gave priority to my sonic imaginary. While listening to the recording I was simply inspired by all the multiple layers of sound and how they mix together resulting in some dissonances but also in an orchestrated confluence of ambience sound. This experience reminded me about my hometown's main square inhabited by pigeons and the sonic aura of the place, filled with a swooshing sound of birds...
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Traditional Chinese music performed at the Forbidden City
This recording captures the beautiful performance of traditional music and dance at the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) in Beijing, China. 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
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Spirit chant
"I have chosen a recording by Erick Ruiz Arellano of ancient Mayan instruments which sound like bird calls and I wonder if these were used for ceremonies for people to assume bird or animal spirits for specific rituals as practiced in some ancient cultures today. "I have chopped up fragments of the original sound recording and used some FX to create a chant like call, along with a recording la...
2m Mar 23, 2025
2m
Nijo-jo nightingale floor
This recording was taken inside Nijo castle, one of Kyoto's Cultural World Heritage site, which features a 'nightingale floor': the wooden floor's nails are positioned in such a way that they rub against a jacket or clamp, and overtime produce squeaking or chirping noises when walked on, sounding almost like the bird it is named after. Legend has it these floors were installed as an analog secu...
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Church of the Acheiropoietos
Inside the Church of the Acheiropoietos, the stillness of the ancient space is interrupted only by the noise of modern Thessaloniki seeping in from the outside. The distant sounds of traffic and city life mingle with the sounds of church workers moving about, their presence adding to the living energy of the space. This recording invites us to feel the pulse of life within the church, where the...
1m Mar 23, 2025
1m
Paphos Castle
By Paphos Castle, the recording reveals the powerful clash of waves against the harbor walls. Each surge reverberates through the air as boats rock violently, their ropes creaking under the pressure. The relentless energy of the sea fills the soundscape, its intensity underscored by the groaning of the boats. Amid this natural chaos, the castle stands firm, a timeless guardian against the raw f...
2m Mar 23, 2025
2m
Colombia's coffee culture
In Colombia’s lush coffee-growing region, mornings are a celebration of life and sensory delight. Perched on misty mountain slopes, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the melodic calls of toucans, hummingbirds, and the occasional eagle gliding effortlessly above. This UNESCO-designated landscape is not just about coffee - it’s a tribute to the harmony between humans and nature, wh...
1m Mar 23, 2025
1m
Voices of the Delta
Recorded under the starry expanse of the Okavango Delta at Gomoti Plains Lodge in Botswana, this audio captures a rare and mesmerizing moment of cultural and natural heritage. Gathered around a crackling fire, the lodge's staff performs traditional songs for their guests passed down through generations of Bushmen and Okavango communities. Their voices rise and fall in harmony, interwoven with ...
15m Mar 23, 2025
15m
The Sirens of Paphos
"Inspired by both the coastal location of Paphos Castle, as well as drawing on the myths and legends from the eastern Mediterranean, this piece depicts a group of Sirens singing their mournful song just out at sea. The shores of Paphos lap in the background while the slips and discordancies in the voices betray the creatures' monstrous essence. "While not accurate to the mythos portrayed in th...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Beyond the cup
"This composition is based on a recent recording created within the Heritage Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia by Rafael Diogo. "Elements within the original recording of wildlife and human activity are re-imagined as new and expanding melodies and rhythms. In particular there are several predominant bird sounds and vocalizations amongst all the activity. One is the sound of a bird taking ...
10m Mar 23, 2025
10m
Bent bones
"The group chants in Botswana’s Delta left a deep impression on me; especially, I was struck by how the chants echoed a sense of unity, resilience, and reverence for nature, blending individual voices into something much larger than the sum of its parts. The rhythmic repetition created a trance-like atmosphere, inviting contemplation and deep emotional connection. "Inspired by these emotions, ...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
Worship at Alexander Nevsky
An extraordinary recording from the hill at the top of Tallinn's Old Town. At 5pm the carillon of bells at Alexander Nevsky cathedral rings out. The cathedral has eleven bells cast in Saint Petersburg, the largest of which weighs about 16 tons, more than the other ten combined, and sounds incredible. Following the carillon, we head inside and catch a session of rhythmic, sung orthodox prayers. ...
15m Mar 23, 2025
15m
Climbing 258 stairs
Climbing up the medieval spire of St. Olaf's church - a 258-step climb, during which you can clearly hear the creak of the large rope banister we use to haul ourselves up the stairs as we record (as well as the sound of heavy breathing!). The spire is extremely narrow, with stone steps, making it very tricky to pass people coming in the other direction, but the views of the Old Town at the top...
3m Mar 23, 2025
3m
Estonian drones for electric guitar, modular synth, voice and bell
"Samples of the original field recording were layered and looped using the wonderful ciat lonbarde, cocoquantus. A wooden, modular, duel 8 bit looper and multi oscillator synth. Voices, bells and passages of room ambiance all turned into drone symphonies, pushed pulled and layered. 3 brief snippets of open tuned guitar, re sampled and slowed fitting perfectly, creating the central drones and so...
11m Mar 23, 2025
11m
Hold your tension
"I originally tried to go for a "dungeon synth" style song and wrote out the whole thing, but then decided to go a different route. In keeping with the medieval theme, I imagined a knight going into a mountain to slay a dragon and tried to capture the knight's anxiety in the various sounds that I picked. "I've been particularly inspired by modular synthesizers for a few years now, but only rec...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Beautiful iron friend
"On first hearing the Notre Dame bells recording, I had a mental image of the iconic Cathedral standing majestically. I realised however, I knew very little about the bells themselves. "Historically bells had a functional societal role delivering information and marking important events, not just noting the time or summoning the faithful to worship. The passing bell for instance conveyed coded...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
New Year's Day bell ringing, Palais Des Papes
Step into the historic heart of Avignon on New Year's Day, as the city awakens to a new year. This recording captures the tranquil atmosphere in front of the majestic Palais Des Papes, moments before the iconic bells of Notre Dame Des Doms chime in, announcing the start of the New Year's Day Mass. As we listen we are reminded of the rich history of Avignon as the Papal city, where for over 70 ...
14m Mar 23, 2025
14m
Nor any drop to drink
"I used to live in Kew, so I had a personal connection to the audio. Initially I was thinking of doing something factually-based with spoken word about botany, say, or the gardens' history. As time went on, I became more inspired by the possibilities of the actual sound of the water, so the piece became more about that, more abstract. I processed the original audio in various ways (stretch, gra...
10m Mar 23, 2025
10m
Death and rebirth of an iron bridge
"This composition tells the story of an iron bridge, interweaving history, tragedy, and renewal. Drawing from Franz Kafka’s enigmatic short story The Bridge and Renzo Piano’s speech at the inauguration of the Genoa Saint George Bridge, it explores the profound symbolism of bridges—not just as structures, but as living entities that connect, endure, and sometimes fall. "At the heart of this wor...
3m Mar 23, 2025
3m
Cairo noir
"The sound sample comes from a place rich with history but it sounds very contemporary. It is basicaly a mixture of traffic noises of modern city. It provoked a thought about these modern sounds that once may be as historical and ancient to future generations as the pyramids are to us. That led to the reinterpretation of these sounds in my piece as they would come from the distant past, covered...
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Ironbridge Gorge in flood
"The world's first iron bridge spans the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire in the English Midlands. Through the gorge runs the River Severn, which is prone to flooding - and becoming more so, through climate change. The Ironbridge Gorge is often called the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The area contains all the elements of progress that contributed to the rapid development of this indus...
23m Mar 23, 2025
23m
The evening comes alive with a vibrant hum
Various shops play different music to attract customers, creating a patchwork of sounds that defines the urban soundscape. From loudspeakers, I heard pre-recorded voices, likely sales pitches intended to lure passersby into making a purchase. Some shop assistants amplified their own voices with megaphones, adding to the cacophony. Amidst this, snippets of cheerful conversations between people ...
7m Mar 23, 2025
7m
Bell ringing, Church of Our Lady
This recording captures bell ringing of the Church of Our Lady in the historic centre of Bruges. Birds can be heard singing whilst distant horse hooves can be heard as one of the local horse and carts passes by. UNESCO listing: Historic Centre of Bruges Recorded by Colin Hunter. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights. ...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
Coral Bay waves
I collected these sounds where the waves were hitting the rocks on shore. It was mesmerising and peaceful. It helps me to remember snorkelling at the incredibly pristine Ningaloo Reef with sharks and turtles. UNESCO listing: Ningaloo Coast Recorded by Claire Pannell aka Furchick. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights....
1m Mar 23, 2025
1m
Equilibrium
"It’s the story of a trip I made to China many years ago. What I saw there was the great contrast present in Chinese culture: modernity and the past, chaos and calm, noise and silence, Yin and Yang. White embraces black and contains it at the same time, all included in a circle that creates infinite motion, in Equilibrium with the universe. "I mixed voices, electronic music and violin, slightl...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Untitled
"I chose this sound because it is a particularly well recorded field recording with a wide frequency range providing me a lot of scope with which to play. Whilst listening to it I instantly heard clear and distinct resonant frequencies, and even in places ghost tones produced by the interaction of frequencies. I felt these resonant frequencies (the uniquely experienced result of specific physic...
7m Mar 23, 2025
7m
Hold on to the coast
"The movement of sound and the rhythm of the waves pulled me into this aqueous world. I’ve always been fascinated by hydrophone recordings and the unseen realms beneath the water’s surface. This recording became a springboard for imagining the whimsical lives thriving in the reefs at Ningaloo Coral Bay—the rich biodiversity, the magic, and the mystery that captivate us. "But alongside that won...
9m Mar 23, 2025
9m
The new winds of Ningaloo Reef
"When I heard the field recording, I was hooked by its eeriness and musicality. A vivid image came to mind—a lonely wind turbine at night in the middle of the ocean. Though from a distant place I had never been, it resonated with me. "My approach was based on how, even when we try to create environmental solutions, we still leave an impact, like altering the natural soundscape. The recording r...
6m Mar 23, 2025
6m
Bath
"I composed this piece using the software Fl studios. I made a drill beat and I managed to incorporate the sound from 'England Bath Heritage Tourist Talk'. I did this by adding processing effects like delay to the sound. I then added the sound into the intro and verse of the beat." Tourist talk at Bath Spa reimagined by Aubrey. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, explor...
2m Mar 23, 2025
2m
Tuna seller at Zacatecas
Tuna seller walks through the streets of Zacatecas (Camino Real de Tierra Adentro). Stereo 48khz 24bit. UNESCO listing: Camino Real de Tierra Adentro 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
3m Mar 23, 2025
3m
Sala prove quattro
"The field recording of cows and bells from a valley in Italy inspired the composition by capturing the raw, organic sounds that represent a timeless connection to the land. The piece addresses Sonic Heritage by preserving these sounds, highlighting their cultural significance and the risk of losing them to tourism or industrialization. "Techniques like time-stretching, layering, and reverb we...
2m Mar 23, 2025
2m
Amaterasu
"This recording is from the Ferrara International Buskers Festival 2023. This is one of the biggest events in global street music. The performance happening in this recording is a troupe of masked Japanese drummers using large plastic oil containers as their instruments. As the microphone turns we can hear how a large castle wall behind us is reflecting the sound. The drumming sounds like tradi...
4m Mar 23, 2025
4m
Dusk chorus at Mount Kenya national park and forest
UNESCO listing: Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest This dusk chorus recorded at Castle Forest Lodge in Mount Kenya National Park and Forest is a harmonious blend of natural sounds, showcasing the interactions of the forest wildlife at dusk. Different birds are singing melodiously, with the Red-fronted Parrots calling loudly from the thick forest canopy. The Black and white Colobus Monke...
5m Mar 23, 2025
5m
Public demonstration at Queretaro
Public demonstration at Querétaro, Mexico. Stereo 44khz 16bit. XXXX reimagined 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 Photo by Tito Texidor III (https://unsplash.com/@titofoto?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_m...
1m Mar 23, 2025
1m
Danza de los voladores
"The sound I chose is based on Mexico, where it is about worshipping the gods to bring the end of droughts to their crops. The worshipping is played as four men is spinning around down from the tall wooden pole and one of them is playing a melody dancing on top of the wooden pole. This shows a lot of tension to me where I thought it will match with a fast stressful syncopated beat, so I thought...
3m Mar 23, 2025
3m