We had a great time listening together in September. We're looking forward (listening forward?) to October's gathering.
You should host!
It doesn't take more than a living room to host.
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Here are some highlights from the September Listening Lounge!
Thanks to Zach for hosting and Rene for taking notes to share.
9/19 DCLL Zach’s House
As we mingled before the introductions, we discussed Sound Scene. Rene mentioned that he didn’t like the idea of DIY wind-chimes when he first heard about it—he thinks wind-chimes sound lonely—but after working with them at the table it is one of his favorite aspects of Sound Scene.
Ice breaker: A lonely sound.
Rene: Wind-chimes. About three years at DCLL
Roger: A barking dog. Second DCLL
Zach: When his family’s African Gray Parrot is alone it will start making garbled sounds that are like a person talking. Also, the parrot loves wind-chimes.
Amy: A snowplow on a quiet snow day. Five years at DCLL.
Liz: The silence after a slamming door. Whether someone leaves in anger, or everyone leaves in excitement and the door slams. First DCLL.
Listening:
Rene is preparing to spend four days field recording. Instead of sharing a recorded piece he asked the group for input on the story idea. He will be recording his uncle and friends as they skateboard to raise money for Seattle Children’s Hospital. He is concerned that there is no inherent tension to the story. The group had several good suggestions.
Sports stories often follow a simple chronological arc: lead-up, event, reflection.
Pre-interview participants. Stay general.
There may be a shift in the tone as the participants get tired
Get someone describing what someone else is doing.
If you can figure out the ending, you can build a structure from it. Among other things, an ending should be surprising, inevitable, and the resolution of tension.
Liz shared three minutes of an interview about exhuming then disposing of a decaying elephant. Memorable quote, “It started out great!”.
Zach Shared a Midi arrangement he created from a clarinet quintet he found on vinyl when he was in school.
Amy shared a mystery clip. It turns out that her new upstairs neighbors have very heavy footsteps.
Discussion turned to other sounds of row-house living. Particularly rats in walls.
Rene played an excerpt from a conversation about a POW camp during WWII. This is the second selection he’s shared from a conversation with fellow DCLL member Bohdan.