Acousmatics:
"A noise that one hears without seeing what causes it."
" Name given to the disciples of Pythagoras who, for five years, listened to his teachings while he was hidden behind a curtain, without seeing him, while observing a strict silence."
"A noise that one hears without seeing what causes it."
" Name given to the disciples of Pythagoras who, for five years, listened to his teachings while he was hidden behind a curtain, without seeing him, while observing a strict silence."
Field report 1) A soft rustling can be heard close by. It has a relatively rough texture and sounds as if it is scraping against something else. I can also hear a low and soft humming that is continuous. A sharp, high pitched sound that echoes, is heard from above and slowly becomes louder than suddenly soft and repeats at random times until the sound disappears completely. Now a louder rustling and crumpling sound, surrounds me then becomes soft, slowly becomes louder and repeats this pattern until disappearing completely. A short, soft humming sound that repeats at different times and different pitch is heard in the distance. Cutting through these sounds is a rhythmic and repetitive clicking and chirping that arises from above and is continuous.
Field report 2) A soft and rhythmic tapping that is repetitive and consistent is heard. This sound is randomly interrupted by a single (and louder) tap that is heard at a lower pitch but is combined with a short, high pitched frequency towards the end of the tap. This is interrupted by a short high pitched click. After the short click, the tapping pattern is heard again. This pattern of clicking and tapping is repeated many times but from different directions. The overall sound is a wave of rhythmic tapping that is louder at times, but also becomes quieter. Above this sound a low buzzing is heard that is cut off by a short sweeping sound.
Field report 3) There is a low hum that is continuous and does not become higher or lower in pitch or volume. Another sound that is also low is heard above this and is closer than the first sound. It is repetitive and each time this sound is heard, it has different pitch frequencies, sometimes low and sometimes high. At one point, this sound reaches a very high pitch, become quite airy, then cuts off and trails down to a lower pitch and stops. It is now silent apart from the low continuous hum.
Field report 4) A high pitched airy-sounding noise is heard and slowly decreases in volume then stops completely. Apart from a very low and vibrating hum, there is a few seconds of unintelligible silence. Now a popping sound is heard above a constant sizzling sound. This popping sound is heard at random times and each time, the sound is heard at different pitches and volumes. Now a new sound cuts off the previous sound. It starts at a low frequency but quickly escalates into higher frequencies and back down again. This melodic phrase only happens once and is unpleasant to the ear.
Field report 5) A high pitched, nasal sound is heard and fluctuates in pitch by a minor third interval. It lasts about 2-4 seconds but sometimes it can last up to 6-8 seconds. This sound can be described as using the lower sounds "ee" and "ooh". It comes in and out of the soundscape, usually having abscences of 2-10 minutes. Its timbre is thin and has a "whiny" and alarmed impression to it. Its volume range differes depending on its distance away from me. It is not loud if it is right next to me although it is louder than other immediate sounds.
Field report 6) A thin, airy sound that has not pitch is heard to my right, lasting around 3-4 seconds. This sound could be described as an exhaled breath except when the sound is heard, it slowly crescendos in volume then descrendos after pausing. Above this, is a sound that accelerates in volume and pitch very quickly, starting in a low pitch moving upwards. This sound has a rough texture to it, that reminds me of the voice of a smoker. It can also be described as low, heavy, dry and croaky. It accelerates in volume quickly, trails up to a higher pitch (even though it is still quite a low pitch) and stays at this volume and pitch for about 1-2 seconds, before trailing down to a lower pitch and volume, then cuts off completely.
Field report 7) A low, heavy sound is heard outside my window. It stays at the same pitch but becomes louder every 1-2 seconds. After this pattern repeats about 7 times, it slowly decreases in volume until the sound can no longer be heard. Now multiple high pitched squeaks and chirps coming from different directions, have entered the soundscape. Sometimes they are layered, with different rhythms, so the overal effect of these sounds are syncoptated, however they are not organised or structured, furthermore sounding random and chaotic.
Field report 8) There are multiple high pitches outside both of my windows. One to my direct left, the other to my right back. These pitches change and fluctuate in rhythm. It sounds like an eighth note followed by two quarter notes. They sometimes layer on top of eachother making interval like major thirds and perfect fifths. The rhythm and harmony heard constantly changes though and is hard to depict as the tempo is quite fast. Also I can’t hear a repeating pattern within the soundscape, expect for a short, high pitched melody. This melody lasts around two seconds but repeats at random times, about eight times altogether.
Field report 9) To my left, a distant whooshing and airy sound, with a low tone, is heard that started at forte, immediately became softer, and quickly became louder. This sound then gradually decrescendos until it can no longer be heard and altogether lasted around 20 seconds. When this sound exited the soundscape, a crinkling metallic sound is heard, and sounds like two quaver notes. After this is a sweeping sound that has
no pitch and is followed by a loud bang that echoes slightly. Very quickly before bang, a high pitched scraping sound was heard and stopped as the band sound entered the soundscape.
no pitch and is followed by a loud bang that echoes slightly. Very quickly before bang, a high pitched scraping sound was heard and stopped as the band sound entered the soundscape.
Field report 10) A high pitch, nasal, buzzing sound is heard to my left. Multiple times this sound suddenly becomes louder and the nasal/buzzing tone is intensified. When this happens, a few seconds later the sound always decrescendos. This sound reminds me of a theremin. A different sound has now entered the soundscape, directly to my right. This sound has a mid-pitch and nasal quality to it and is unpleasant to the ears. It is heard multiple times at the relatively same pitch each time. Each time, it sounds like one crotchet followed by a longer note, maybe a dotted minum. When the second note is heard, the pitch slowly ascends to a semitone lower than the pitch of the first note.
This happens every time this sound is heard, although it may start at a lower or higher pitch.
This happens every time this sound is heard, although it may start at a lower or higher pitch.
Field report 11) A crinkling, sweeping sound is heard briefly before two consecutive clicks. The first click has a lower timbre than the second click, although just before the click ceases, a light, moderately high pitched ‘tap’ is heard over the click. The second click is has a more soft and airy tone to it than the first. After these sounds leave the soundscape, I notice a constant mechanical, hum that does not change in
pitch or volume. This sound is layered in octaves of the same pitch. The crinkling, sweeping sound returns lasting about 15 seconds. Softer crackling sounds are now heard.
pitch or volume. This sound is layered in octaves of the same pitch. The crinkling, sweeping sound returns lasting about 15 seconds. Softer crackling sounds are now heard.