Knocking upon the unanswered door
"The piece was about seeking answers or at least a response and receiving silence. There is a resignation or even frustration that is represented with the ebbing and flowing of the instruments. "Harmonium, guitar, saxophone, and Mellotron alongside a field recording of a call to prayer. Every time a melody would emerge, I would intentionally pull back as if the melody was an answer to the plea...
12m May 26, 2025
12m
Blossoming wake
"Blossoming Wake was inspired by the field recording “By The Kukkia Lake” by Sirpa Jokinen. I was drawn to this field recording, which was made with a contact microphone, simply because I too have been using contact microphones to record outdoors. "My sound sources consist of contact microphones placed in dead hollow trees (Clark Reservation, Jamesville, NY) and on a creaking gate (Three Falls...
6m May 26, 2025
6m
Hydrophone recording of photosynthesis activity
Hydrophones at the bottom of a seasonal pond, in the ecologically rich Orchard St Marsh and Forest which is threatened by a developer who wants to build condos. Recorded by Matt Rogalsky.
4m May 18, 2025
4m
Wetland time
"Like so many other areas, time is running out for the wetlands at Orchard Street Marsh, Canada. Development decisions are under review. To reflect this in my piece, I have kept the sound of the hydrophone from the original recording as a time clock. "Accompanying, I have played layers of tenor recorder to represent the harmony of breath beneath the water. You will also hear the natural sounds...
2m May 18, 2025
2m
Electrical storm, Perth
This recording captures the sferic sounds from an electrical storm that occurred on 30.03.2025. The fizzes, crackles and zaps are from natural electrical phenomena, specifically broadband electromagnetic (EM) impulses caused by lightning discharges, that were detected via a homemade receiver I adapted from the Shortwave Collective’s Open Wave-Receiver. There are 3 recordings, the first half is...
5m May 17, 2025
5m
Roar of the wild, hum of the machine
In the Chocó jungle near Capurganá, Colombia, the natural soundscape is interrupted by the hum of generators. This recording captures the morning interplay between the haunting calls of howler monkeys and the mechanical drone of generators, creating a unique, chaotic harmony. Recorded by Rafael Diogo.
2m May 17, 2025
2m
Choleric cemetery
The selected recording was made at a roadside metal cross surrounded by a fence, marking the burial place of cholera epidemic victims. Behind the cross, a short distance from the road, the old burial plot has turned into a wild pond covered with duckweed. You can hear a flock of tits flying over the water surface, dragonflies interested in the microphones, and at one point, a raven appears on a...
12m May 17, 2025
12m
Distant proximity
"What grabbed me about the original rainforest recording from Colombia was hearing two opposites collide – the raw, wild roars of howler monkeys and a strange, mechanical buzz. The longer I listened, the more apparent it became that this recording, much like the composition it inspired, revolves fundamentally around the idea of distance. Different kinds of proximity mix here – the clash of natu...
5m May 17, 2025
5m
Skala
"My composition “Skała” (which means rock) is based on a field recording from the Skała Choleric Jewish Cemetery in Pabianice, Poland. One might think what sounds could there be in a cemetery? Silence? Wind? Birds? When I first heard this field recording what I heard were the sounds of history. A very deep complicated history. Skała dates back to the 13th century, and the first Jews appeared se...
5m May 17, 2025
5m
Static down under
"This composition is built entirely from a field recording of an electrical storm, whose raw energy and unpredictable structure inspired the form of the piece. I preserved the full length of the original audio, allowing its natural rise and fall to guide the listening experience. "Through heavy processing, the storm’s dynamics are brought into sharper focus — from piercing, harsh bursts of ene...
5m May 17, 2025
5m
Old town walkthrough
"I live on the Danish island of Bornholm, which is in the western end of the Baltic Sea. People here share a long, rich history with the Baltic countries, so choosing a field-recording from Tallinn felt natural. The dastardly Russian war feels really close here at the moment, and many of us here are more conscious about our cultural heritage and friendship across the sea now than we used to be....
5m May 17, 2025
5m
A medieval walkthrough in the rain
Walkthrough of Tallinn's medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on a morning with pouring rain. The streets are quite empty compared to the usual bustle, and we hear rain overflowing from drainpipes and gutters. The soundwalk ends at the famous, beautiful medieval alleyway St. Catherine's Passage. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
5m May 17, 2025
5m
Brindisi, al porto
"The port of Brindisi, end of the Appian Way at five in the afternoon, along the steps at the foot of the Roman columns. "Two stretches of still and silent sea, the engine of the boat that connects the shores of the port, the bar and its cheerful customers, birds singing in spring, a sudden plane that takes flight from the nearby airport. "A counterpoint with an insistent rhythm that melts an...
3m May 17, 2025
3m
Brindisi port
The port of Brindisi, end of the Appian Way at five in the afternoon, along the steps at the foot of the Roman columns. Two stretches of still and silent sea, the engine of the boat that connects the shores of the port, the bar and its cheerful customers, birds singing in spring, a sudden plane that takes flight from the nearby airport. Recorded by Giuseppe Schirone. IMAGE: Freccia53, CC BY-...
3m May 17, 2025
3m
Radio France Sonic Heritage feature, May 2025 (French language)
Feature on French national radio station Radio France on Sonic Heritage, broadcast on 9 May 2025 - French language only. "Une bibliothèque où sont rangés les environnements sonores de 270 sites du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO Et aussi des objets immatériels , tous réimaginés par des artistes du monde entier. « Accessible gratuitement cette collection permet d’écouter les sons emblématiques ...
2m May 15, 2025
2m
Ancient Waorani Icaro
This recording captures the early morning sounds of an ancient Waorani warrior in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Staying with him in his traditional palm-thatched longhouse, the tranquility of the environment was profound, with minimal external noise. Despite a language barrier—he spoke only Waorani (Sabela)—we connected through gestures and shared moments. At dawn, as we emerged from our hammocks, I a...
3m May 05, 2025
3m
Cantar
"The original field recording is awesome so I wanted to keep as much of that as I could in the new piece. The background rhythm is created from a small sample of the orginal with some echo added. I then added some background melodies and overlay the original recording." Ancient Waorani Icaro in Ecuador reimagined by Richard Watts.
4m May 05, 2025
4m
Jarv
"The original recording reminded me of woozy days listening to my children play when they were young. The music I've added intentionally loses focus / zones out and hopefully evokes a dreamlike state." Swimming in Mooste reimagined by Adam Leonard.
3m May 03, 2025
3m
Swimming in Mooste
It was beautiful summer day in 2013 August and I was staying at the artist residency in Mooste. I wanted to record some local sounds and went to the swimming place at the lake nearby.I asked the people who were picnicking by the lake if they thought it would be ok to record and they said yes. I sat on the pier. Recorded in Mooste, Estonia by Sirpa Jokinen.
3m May 03, 2025
3m
Crashing waves on Elgol beach
Waves crash onto a rocky beach in Elgol, with the close sound of water smacking against the hard rocks of the beach. One boat passes by into the harbour during the recording. Recorded on the Isle of Skye by Cities and Memory.
4m May 03, 2025
4m
The link of generations
"I recorded and reinterpreted this sound myself. Our common bond, apart from kinship, is playing the guitar." Cemetery in  Kemerovo, Russia reimagined by Pavel Lopatin.
2m May 03, 2025
2m
The sound of the cemetery in May
The sound is in good weather at the cemetery, near my great-grandmother's grave. It's a bright place, despite the sadness. On the recording, you can hear birds, rustling, and a few other people, perhaps you can hear the wind. Recorded in Kemerovo, Russia by Pavel Lopatin.
2m May 03, 2025
2m
Isle of Skye ( {AN} EeL Versio )
"A dense re-mix for the Cities and Memory project." Waves on Elgol beach reimagined by {AN} EeL.
4m May 03, 2025
4m
Paris jazz club
"The composition is made samples cut from the original field recording, with a little additions, looped and rearranged. It finishes with a nod to a Paris Jazz great." Jazz show at Le Baiser Salé, Paris reimagined by Simon Woods.
3m Apr 28, 2025
3m
Up close and personal in the Paris jazz scene
A lively jazz sextet led by Michel Zenino recorded at the tiny, intimate Paris jazz club Le Baiser Salé. Michel Zenion Zewoaï: Michel Zenino - contrebass Leo Montana - piano Christophe Monniot - alto saxophone Jeff Boudreaux - drums Manu Codija - guitar Adriano Tenorio - percussion Recorded on 14 December 2024 by Cities and Memory.
8m Apr 28, 2025
8m
Kjærlighetsstien, Utøya
The recording contains the ambience at "Kjærlighetsstien" at Utøya, close to Oslo, in the morning of 22nd July 2022. Utøya was the site where mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik massacered 69 young people on July 22nd, 2011, exactly 11 years earlier. At "Kjærlighetsstien" 11 youth tried to hide and play dead, but were discovered and shot by Breivik, only a single survivor. The sound of the wav...
10m Apr 28, 2025
10m
Pryvoz market
Recording at Privoz market in Odessa was a mix of emotions. The market buzzed with life, as vendors sold goods and people clung to everyday routines despite the ongoing conflict. There was a sense of resilience in the air, but beneath the bustle, a quiet sadness lingered. It reflected the uncertainty of the war between Ukraine and Russia, casting a shadow over the moments of normalcy that still...
4m Apr 28, 2025
4m
Global and local: market place in Odessa
"This is a lovely field recording of the everyday bustle and chatter. I used a recording of shortwave radio (Web SDR) and a clip from Hat Note (the sonification of real time changes to Wikipedia) to try and convey the global backdrop to the everyday business of the buyers and sellers at Privoz Market in Odessa." Privoz market, Odessa reimagined by Roland Pyle.
2m Apr 28, 2025
2m
Utøpya - Osøø
"Ramblings and sound variations with and in the source landscape... dreamy moments... lunar thoughts..." "Kjærlighetsstien" at Utøya reimagined by Philippe Neau.
4m Apr 28, 2025
4m
Sonic Heritage feature, CBC radio, 21 April 2025
A feature on CBC, Canadian national radio, broadcast on 21 April 2025 about the Sonic Heritage project. Features an interview with Cities and Memory founder Stuart Fowkes, and several field recordings from the project.
5m Apr 27, 2025
5m
BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: Sonic Heritage interview, 18 April 2025
Interview with Cities and Memory founder Stuart Fowkes on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on 18 April 2025, introducing the Sonic Heritage project. Features sound clips from the Tower of London, the Sistine Chapel and Valparaiso, Chile.
4m Apr 18, 2025
4m
BBC World Service Newshour: Sonic Heritage interview, 18 April 2025
Interview with Cities and Memory founder Stuart Fowkes on BBC World Service's Newshour programme on 18 April 2025, introducing the Sonic Heritage project. Features sound clips from the Sistine Chapel, Coimbra in Portugal and Okarito in New Zealand.
5m Apr 18, 2025
5m
The place of greenstone
"It was fascinating in the course of working on this piece to learn more about the significance of the Te Wahipounamu region to the Māori people, and to read of the world-building legends about how this part of the world came into being. "I wanted to hold this sense of the sacred close to me as I explored the sound - and what it represented - more deeply. This piece contemplates the very diffe...
7m Apr 07, 2025
7m
Dawn chorus at Okarito
This is a recording of a dawn chorus after two days of hard rain at Ōkārito. Pīpipi Brown Creepers, Mātata Fernbird, Tauhou Silvereyes, and other manu birds are busy feeding and grooming in the warm sunlight. Mixing with this birdsong is the constant rumble of waves that can be heard wherever you are in town. The trail where this was recorded was dripping with rainwater and steaming as the temp...
18m Apr 07, 2025
18m
Sitting concession
"The overlapping sounds – the drone's gentle pulse, the lingering reverb, the admiring whispers, and the sacred music – create a dreamlike and immersive experience. It's as if the drone has become a silent witness, its sonic capture blending the everyday wonder of visitors with the profound spiritual atmosphere of a Christmas Mass. The drawn-out notes act as a unifying force, binding these disp...
6m Apr 07, 2025
6m
Clinch variant
At the heart of the recording is the simple, almost nostalgic sound of a small stereo playing the Kokiriko bushi melody with its slightly lo-fi quality. For this remix, the original recording has been cleaned, removing unwanted noise while preserving the inherent intimacy of the space. Layers additional music have been introduced, transforming the raw performance into a chilled-out sonic journe...
6m Apr 07, 2025
6m
St. Anthony's relics
In the Basilica di Sant'Antonio in Padova, in which we can hear tourists admiring the amazing church and its incredible frescos, statues and artworks, as well as a Christmas service taking place in the centre of the church. We join the queue to view the relics of St. Anthony, which include the saint's tongue, jawbone and vocal chords. UNESCO listing: Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles R...
5m Apr 07, 2025
5m
Kokiriko bushi
The sound recorded is of an exibition of the Kokiriko bushi traditional dance. A man, in traditional clothes, plays a song on a little stereo and dances in front of a small audience. The setting is a traditional house made of dark timber, embers shine in the ash pit in the middle of the room. As he dances he plays the binzasara, a traditional instrument that can double as a decoration to ward o...
5m Apr 07, 2025
5m
In the metro, Novosibirsk
Recording from the Novosibirsk metro, Russia. Recorded by Pavel Lopatin
2m Apr 07, 2025
2m
Resonant protest in Tirana
Many of Albania’s voices are political, and this recording demonstrates that this remains true today. Captured in Skanderbeg Square, in the heart of Tirana, this recording showcases the soundscape of a protest organized by the opposition party, the Democratic Party of Albania. In the recording, the voice of the individual speaking into the microphone during the protest in front of Tirana City ...
2m Apr 07, 2025
2m
In metropoliten
Recorded sounds are synthesised with electronic sounds, creating new timbres and syntheses. Novosibirsk metro, Russia reimagined by Pavel Lopatin.
12m Apr 07, 2025
12m
Walls that resist
"Protests embody unrest, tension, and hope. They are activities that display these contrasts while effectively utilizing sound. In this interpretation, I sampled a protest recording from Tirana and approached it in four distinct ways. The first is in its original form. The second features a louder megaphone effect. The third presents a distorted, unclear, and incomprehensible sound enhanced wit...
5m Apr 07, 2025
5m
Peter and Paul Fortress Carillon
Peter and Paul Fortress Carillon (i believe it was a rehearsal). I randomly walked into the sound of the bells and made a recording directly under the cathedral on the empty night square. UNESCO listing: Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments Recorded by Masha Sha. IMAGE: Alex 'Florstein' Fedorov, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via...
7m Apr 03, 2025
7m
Temple sticks at Ayutthaya
Temple Sticks at Ayutthaya. Stereo 44kHz 16bit. UNESCO listing: Historic City of Ayutthaya Recorded by Erick Ruiz Arellano. IMAGE: H191, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons ——————— 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://ww...
26s Mar 31, 2025
26s
Together
"I was attracted to working with a recording from Thailand for personal reasons. I travelled there some years ago, and lived in a border town, where I volunteered helping a local NGO working with refugees from Burma I had never visited Ayutthaya and the temples, so this work is a chance to visit it in some way. I had visited some other Buddhist temples, and the places and the moods of those exp...
3m Mar 31, 2025
3m
Proton motive force
"What struck me about this recording was the joyful melancholy of the brass band, a bittersweet, steady march. The constant pulse of life. A warm embrace, a salve for wayward souls. The chug of an old train on a long journey. The rhythms that govern our lives, that bring a sense of constancy, but are also relentless and uncompromising. These universally human rhythms but also all biological rhy...
6m Mar 31, 2025
6m
Ayasofya in the dark
"This piece was inspired by a story my father told me about when he was a student in Istanbul. One night as my father was walking through the grounds of the mosque, from out of the darkness he heard the delicate strains of a musician, the reverberations of their instrument bouncing off the pillars of the courtyard, a sound echoing and decaying like watercolour paints. For my father, it was one ...
2m Mar 31, 2025
2m
Traditional bell ringing
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is an Orthodox Christian cathedral located in Georgia's oldest city and former capital, Mtskheta. As I passed through the main entrance and walked through the internal grounds, bell ringers began ringing the bells from high up in one of the towers. UNESCO listing: Historical Monuments of Mtskheta Recorded by Colin Hunter. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heri...
8m Mar 31, 2025
8m
Religious procession in Lima
Religious procession in Lima. Stereo 48kHz 24bit. UNESCO listing: Historic Centre of Lima 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
4m Mar 31, 2025
4m
Inside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Binaural recording of a walk around the mosque, November 2015. UNESCO listing: Historic Areas of Istanbul Recorded by David Webb. ——————— 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 31, 2025
1m