by
Stanley Cardona
My Sound essay revolves around different elements of noise within Hartford, from the natural sounds of crows on a field to the futuristic rhythm of a railroad train. These audio clips were obtained from multiple locations all within the borders of Hartford; which demonstrates the difference in soundscapes that make up the capital city. These sounds make up the personality of the city and can give us a glimpse of where Hartford currently is in terms of an audio environment; as well as where it may be headed in the future. While performing the fieldwork to obtain the audio clips my main focus was listening to the consistent sounds found in the area, in order to procure a clip that was as representative of Hartford as possible. Throughout my short time learning about sound futurism, I gained knowledge about how noises have been influencing people’s lives for hundreds of years. The introduction of the railroad system and telecommunication device, as well as many other modern technologies, has changed life from daily unique sound experiences; into a life comprised of constant background noise that denies sound from being heard as unique. However, with recent noise limitation policies, as well as more studies done on the effects of sound on urban cities, we can notice the reduction of extreme noise over time. This audio clips demonstrate that Hartford still has a lively scene of natural sounds that coincide with the bustling lines of markets and shops that make up a portion of the city. We also see that Hartford is slowly approaching a new soundscape as the progression of technology alters the sonic environment.
References
Aporee, radio. (2014, December 10). Muhlenberg College, 2400 west chew street, Allentown, PA 18104, USA – Haas Bell Tower outside of Egner Chapel : Kc245683@muhlenbe… : https://archive.org/details/aporee_26441_30531