Well Then

December 8, 2009

The time has arrived for warmer clothing, final exams, and cocoa~

I’ve been pressed about retaining all of the information that has been handed to me in a few of my classes. One especially would be my audio recording class. I’ve been studying for this class and so I’ve had Sound on my mind quite frequently lately.

It’s a very strange occurrence isn’t it? Small hairs in our skull that pick up atmospheric pressure changes, then transformed into electrical code which is then translated into sound. Yet it is so powerful and influential on how we live XD.

I wonder to what extent out bodies are effected by these signals. I’ve come across very Positive effect,  and very Negative effects. For example, Zen Buddhists use sounds and tones to reach heightened levels of consciousness and implement these tones in their daily lives. In fact many religions preach this use of sound. (i.e. Ohm).

Yet there are also Negative usages of these sounds, such as cell phone use, key trigger words used by government officials, and even company advertising.

So when I found myself laying down trying to sleep. I could hear the faint sound of cars passing my house on the main road near my house. I was instantly reminded of past times. While up in northern Arizona as a child my family and I would stay at my grandparents cabin. I can remember going to sleep at night and hearing cars drive by in the distance, which would then sooth me to sleep. Now the other night, the sound of cars passing by was yet again far more soothing than any music I could listen to in order to help me sleep (Although I haven’t thoroughly tested this yet).

At first glance, I find that it’s quite strange that I would be soothed by such a harsh and unnatural sound. Yet upon further inspection I wonder which is more natural of a sound; the tone of a buddhist monk made solely for him/her, Or the faint roar of a car in the distance? The buddhist monk may be conjuring that specific sound due to some predetermined prayer of sorts, or he may just like that sound. But the car, which is driven by someone carrying on their daily/nightly activities completely ignorant that I have that one form of contact with them?

I also find it quite amazing what a simple and precise form of contact we have with each other through sound. All I heard of those automobile’s was the noise of some presumed tired across the road, other than that I had no evidence to claim that person was there. Yet each occurence has effected my life.

How very strangely beautiful~

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8 Responses to “Well Then”

  1. String Says:

    I really like this post. I too used to be lulled to sleep by sound. As a young child the sound of rain and foghorns in Seattle. A bit older, the sound of distant trucks on the highway, which was a ways off, but then, the town so small the sound carried. Also the sound of crickets.

    I was just reading about singing bowls yesterday…odd, but not unusual considering.

  2. ementhy Says:

    Thanks String :)

    It’s always been one thing or another for me, the rain, distant cars, the fan, the clock ticking, or even just the faintest sounds of the house at night.

    I’m also very interested in how sound flows from one to the other; always in a continuous flow. (I would love a Tibetan Singing Bowl, they are just a bit out of my price range @-@)

  3. Julie Says:

    The idea of having hair on my skull freaks me out a little bit.
    I love this post, mainly because I adore Ohm. We’ve discussed this before but the sound of the earth, creation and the heart of existence and how it is supposed to guide your consciousness and channel creative energy is both fascinating and important to me.
    If you ask enough people, I am sure you’ll find many are lulled by the noise of cars. When I was young and returning home after a long journey I would always fall asleep to the sound. My bedroom faces a busy highway, so I am still lulled to sleep by vehicles. I wonder, is it the noise itself or the consistency of it?

  4. Eunice Yin Says:

    When I was about 7, I lived in a small town. I live directly opposite a methodist church. When they start singing around 10pm at night til about 12, that’s when I’m in bed, waiting to fall asleep, and that’s my lullaby :)
    Now that i’ve moved to vietnam, where it’s full of honking transportations… I miss my childhood lullaby ^^

    • ementhy Says:

      That must have been nice ^^, Perhaps you should go find a church to move next to in Vietnam? ;)

      • Eunice Yin Says:

        hmm…. the only “big” church is a catholic church in town. it’s near my school BUT the thing is, it’s surrounded by roads, with no houses nearby because it’s the centre of town xD but when i move to spain after university… hell yeah, my boyfriend and i are going hunting for a house with a church nearby xD

  5. Lemon Says:

    All great points. I think as musicians we should be especially conscious of how sound manipulated into the form of music can be used to communicate as well. The connection between the audience and the musician is something quite a bit more real than psychological adoration, I think.

  6. String Says:

    Your comment makes me want to compose again….Lemon!

    I am a huge fan of ticking clocks, but I am bit extreme, I would have at least 10 of them, also bonging and gonging…it drives Tone nuts…so no way!


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