A sound that no longer exists

 I was delighted to work with the recording of Aka masters Momboli and Gongé, playing flutes in the forest at night, recorded by Louis Sarno in the 1990s. I decided to retain the essence of the sounds of the forest camp at night, including the community of women, men, and children, as well as the wild shouts that are often parts of these moments.

 For many years, I have wished to visit the Congo, including the Dzanga-Sangha, and immerse myself among the Bayaka people. With this opportunity presented by the Century of Sounds project, I envisioned a composition that reflects this long-held dream. I decided to create a dreamscape. Perhaps I am dreaming while sleeping in one of the shelters within the forest camp? Or am I dreaming from a faraway country, caught between two worlds?

The concept of a dreamscape was reinforced after listening to an interview with Louis Sarno on the Pitt Rivers Museum Vimeo channel. Sarno describes how Bayaka mbyo flute music can be experienced in dreams, and that the songs are often received in dreams. This insight confirmed that a dreamscape was the appropriate direction for my composition. Sarno also mentions that the sound of this flute no longer exists, as no one plays the flute anymore.
 
The breathing of the dreamer draws the listener within the sleeper’s dream, while a distant drum, perhaps a heartbeat or the pulsing of the forest, soothes and draws you deeper. For the final part of the composition, I improvised a flute part, playing with Momboli and Gongé. Joining these two masters across space and time was a privilege and honour, sharing a song, a highly-valued documentation of Aka culture.

“A Sound That No Longer Exists”: a dreamer is immersed in the sounds of the forest at night with Aka master flute players, Momboli and Gongé. Perhaps the dreamer is asleep in the forest camp, or in another country altogether, dreaming and connecting across the unconscious mind and the supernatural.

Breathing - laryngeal microphone.
Traditional African drums, rainstick, flute, small bells
Performed by Momboli and Gongé, and Vicki Hallett

Flutes in the forest at night reimagined by Vicki Hallett.

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Part of the project A Century of Sounds, reimagining 100 sounds covering 100 years from the collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford. Explore the full project at citiesandmemory.com/century-sounds