Listening Meditation: Name That Sound

July 3, 2018

When’s the last time you took a moment to really listen?
So often we focus on the visual details and ignore the sonic tapestry of our lives. But sound has the power to tell a truly intimate story, portraying nuances of personality and place that cannot be conveyed in any other way. Understanding sound is the key to good audio storytelling. By being attentive to the rich soundscapes that surround us, we learn to appreciate the moment, and “set the scene” in a different way.
Acoustic ethnographer Jenni Schine has provided these curious sounds recorded in various locations on Canada’s west coast for your consideration. Take a moment and listen. Can you determine anything about them without reading the descriptions? Enjoy!

Soundscape #1

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1.scrappingbarnaclesboatbottom.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: Did you ever have a summer job at a marina? Or perhaps have a nautical person in your life who liked to keep you busy on weekends? If so, you may recognize this sound.

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Soundscape #2

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2.barnacles.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: Step into any beachside cave on Canada’s west coast at low tide and you’re likely to hear these rock-like organisms singing.

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Soundscape #3

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/3.orcalabscientists_hansonisland.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: You can hear the subdued excitement and the truly unique echoing sounds in the background. Are you on an alien planet? Where are you?

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Soundscape #4

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/4.rainontinroof.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: This might just be the coziest sound in the world. Kind of makes you want to go back to bed.

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Soundscape #5

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/5.sealions_billyproctor_broughtonarchipelago.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: These big boys take up a lot of space on a rock at sea. You can almost smell them from here.

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Soundscape #6

[mk_audio mp3_file=”https://hollyhock.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/6.bluebridge_victoria.mp3″ audio_author=”Jenni Schine” player_background=”#205ec9″]

Hint: The whir of wheels, the hum of metal, the echo of waves. Where could this be?

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[mk_padding_divider size=”80″][mk_fancy_title size=”24″ font_family=”none”]Ready to know the answers?[/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider][mk_fancy_title size=”24″ font_family=”none”]Are you sure?[/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″][mk_fancy_title size=”24″ font_family=”none”]Hover over the image to find out![/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22980″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #1″ shape=”square”]Scraping Barnacles off a boat bottom
Image by Jim Roberts[/vc_hoverbox][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22981″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #2″ shape=”square”]Barnacles making their signature sucking sound, low tide, Bamfield, BC
Image by Jenni Schine[/vc_hoverbox][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22982″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #3″ shape=”square”]OrcaLab Scientists on BC’s Hanson Island, listening to whales
Image by Mack Bartlett[/vc_hoverbox][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22983″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #4″ shape=”square”]Rain on the Roof at the Salmon Coast Field Station, BC
Image: https://flic.kr/p/8d5Ufz[/vc_hoverbox][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22984″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #5″ shape=”square”]Long-time coastal resident Billy Proctor reacts to sea lion colony, Broughton Archipelago, BC
Image by Mack Bartlett[/vc_hoverbox][vc_separator][vc_hoverbox image=”22985″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Soundscape #6″ shape=”square”]Standing on the famous Johnstone Street Bridge (aka: the Blue Bridge) in Victoria, BC
Image: h ttps://flic.kr/p/Ry81U[/vc_hoverbox]

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Join Jenni Schine with co-presenter Jennifer Moss for The Story from Hear: Place-Based Podcasts on Cortes Island, August 24-29, 2018