On Wednesday 26th September, Timmie, Josh, Max, and myself, met for our initial meeting regarding our first soundscape project. We settled down with our pints, and let the creative juices flow, and the outcome is what I am going to present to you today.
Before we really began, we decided every team needed a good strong name. After much deliberation, most of which discussing whether the plural of “mongoose” is “mongeese” or “mongooses”, we settled on “Fighting Mongooses” , and then after a few more important points (“Rule number one: we must only meet in pubs” and “You drink lager? But you’re a girl!”) we began sharing ideas that we could work on to create our masterpiece… ahem… Soundscape, I mean.
We drew up a list of ideas, mainly one word or phrase that any of us thought would be a good sound to include, or a good general idea. Timmie kicked things off by saying we should record the wind, and swan song, which we all liked the idea of, particularly the idea of swan song, as a recording, and as a title. From this stemmed many ideas; we could record the sound of water, or the sound of animals. We could record a day in Lincoln (swans are a massive part of any university student’s life, for some reason). We liked the idea of trees, leaves and bushes, and the noises they made in the wind. And of course, what audio-based idea would be complete without suggesting a visit to the cathedral and recording the bells?!
After piecing together the sort of samples and ideas that we wanted to include, we all came to the decision that we would attempt to create a reflective soundscape; perhaps one that would be suitable for one to meditate to. From the ideas that we drew up, and the sounds that we liked, we realized that we could create a strong soundscape based on reflection and relaxation. We left the initial meeting with a provisional idea, and a good one at that. Who knows, it may be subject to change in the next week or so, but for now this is the idea that we intend to build upon.
The phrase “Swan Song” refers to a farewell, or final appearance, due to the symbolism created by the old belief that a swan sings only one beautiful song during it’s lifetime; right before it’s death. This symbolism, and poetic idea, could potentially heavily influence our soundscape, as reflection stems from an idea that one can reflect upon.
The silver Swan, who, living, had no Note,
when Death approached, unlocked her silent throat.
Leaning her breast upon the reedy shore,
thus sang her first and last, and sang no more:
“Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes!
More Geese than Swans now live, more Fools than Wise”. – The Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons
http://www.litscape.com/author/Alfred_Lord_Tennyson/The_Dying_Swan.html – The Dying Swan by Tennison