After a few weekends of editing I have completed some of my tracks for the Interpretation Internship work. Six are finished to date – these all incorporate field recordings, creative writings that have been recorded as spoken word and recordings of movements thorough a landscape such as walking and gates.
After a catch up meeting with the site ranger, we have decided to allocate each recording to a specific area of Glen Finglas. Towards the end of the project we hope to have a body of recordings that provide an interpretation and that will reflect on all the walks that visitors can choose to enjoy on site.
A few more audio recordings to get working on over the next month!
Saturday saw my first session for voice recordings with my trusty helpers – Islay High School’s art and gaelic teachers Neil Galligan and Jason Bond. We began by using the art department as a location to record voices as it is a very quiet space to record in. Both Neil and Jason spoke and assisted me with recording the creative writing pieces that I have been developing. I introduced Jason to how my recording equipment worked. I recorded Jason then he had a go recording Neil and myself. It was rewarding to do a little skills sharing!
Here you can read Neil’s creative writing contributions that describe his experience at Glen Finglas.
Deer trodden moss
Mountain burn gleaning cold
Finches play in sky above
Young buds reaching upward
Lichen scrunched by fingertips
Drip splutter gargle glopp
Chirp twitter tweet swoop
Crunch snap squelch scuffle
Scrunch rustle flutter muffle
As well as these pieces we also recorded a short piece of text that was written by Royal Mail workers in 1997. They were given the opportunity to purchase, plant and dedicate a tree in Glen Finglas. In 1999 over 1500 trees had been planted and these are commemorated in a book and cairn located in the glen. Here is the text that was written for this project and I have recorded this for the audio work.
The path up to this cairn is past the running burn and trees
Brings you up to this viewpoint where it’s made for you to please
Your thoughts can be of anything, of people of your pet
The young, the old, the rich, the poor, or someone you have met
As we view across the loch at the hills so far away
We remember those we love and loved as we came through life’s way
Some are gone in body but in spirit are still here
And this place can hold the memories we want to hold so dear
After my last site visit I’ve been mulling over how to tackle the audio compositions and how to compose the pieces from my field recordings. I have collected over 30 minutes of content to work with to date.
I like the idea of leading the listener into the recording via a human interaction within the landscape such as walking. The listener hears footsteps and can imagine a figure walking through the glen to then encounter my spoken word text before the composition moves away again from spoken word via footsteps. I’m also attempting to use the sounds of gate latches, walking on wooden walkways and moving over styles as lead in sound for the compositions.
I have walked a significant area of Glen Finglas to date. What amazes me is the sense of space that I suddenly become surrounded by. As you walk, you also become aware of the significance of the water that feeds the glen, wildlife and plant life. My written texts will reflect on these ideas.
Haiku 1
Walk up up and round
Listen to bird call and nature
Sounds are all around
Haiku 2
Water spills from high
Trickle, burn, river, falls, flow
Down feeding the Glen
Contribution from Glen Finglas Volunteer:
Beauty is before me
And beauty is behind me
Above and below me hovers the beautiful
I am surrounded by it
I am immersed in it
In my youth I am aware of it
And in old age I shall walk quietly
The beautiful trail.
