I like walking the beach. It’s good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
How many layers of sounds do I hear as I walk? What if I could magically turn off all the sounds here; then bring them back one by one? In what order would they appear?
From the depth of silence, I would first return the sounds of the waves because they are the beach’s heartbeat. Ever present – always steady – sometimes louder – but the sounds of the sea serves as the conductor of the steady symphony I experience as I walk in this place.
As I stand facing the water and feeling the laps gently caressing my feet, I can hear the tiny bubbles of foam. That air trapped in the water being released into the atmosphere. Maybe that’s my transition sound.
Then comes the wind. The wind can greatly vary in its presence through direction and speed. The wind can pass my ears as a roar of a passing train. It can also be a soft whistle – or even the calming sound and feel of a gentle touch. But wait – the same wind sounds different depending on the direction as I walk.
The next layer would be the birds. As a whole, they are not a noisy lot. The seagulls squawk, but not constantly. The pelicans are stealth as they effortless soar just above the water’s surface. I occasionally hear the tweet of the sanderlings as they fly by.
I don’t hear insects or the sand crabs but it does not mean they don’t create sound. Nor do I hear human traffic or construction – but that may be a different soundscape.
I could add the sound of my feet. That steady bass drum that only I hear as I walk – or the splashing with each step as I walk through the passing water.
People would be the next sound. This time of year numbers are few. Humanity’s auditory presence is not constant – actually infrequent would be more accurate. The sounds in peak season would be different with the kids romping, teens playing beach volleyball, and radios blaring.
A soundscape at home in Ohio would be different than here. Would it be rural or urban? In a meadow or the woods? By day or at night?
Maybe I would start with rustling leaves; then add the gentle waters of a babbling stream. Insects would then buzz followed by birds chirping. Nightfall would remove the buzzing insects and chirping birds of the day, but replaced by the crickets, followed by the chorus of croaking frogs, then the occasional screeches of owls and the howling of mammals.
No matter where nature’s symphony plays, what if one of the sounds were eliminated. A concert with missing instruments. A piano concerto with missing keys.
I think about the lyrics in a Nat King Cole song – Mother Nature and Father time.
Every robin is my brother
They sing their songs to me
The tiny black-eyed daisies
The mighty red wood tree
There all my family
Then why do I feel so lonely
Like a king on an empty throne
There’s one thing that’s missing only
A true love to call my own
Won’t you listen mother nature
And listen father time
Please help me to find someone
To fill these arms of mine
Mother nature and father time
I wonder how many pictures can a soundscape paint? Thoughts of soundscapes are more complex than I imagined – but thinking about soundscapes is a good reason why walking the beach is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
Soundscapes are also signals… Paying attention to those [whether urban or rural] we can hear little secrets or hints on changes, sometimes even more than from visual ones. Beautiful post, Frank. Have a lovely week ahead and …with no missing keys from the piano concerto! 😉 Yamas!
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Marina,
Soundscapes as signals … oh yes …. and a list would be long. Excellent addition. … and have a great week! 🙂 Yamas!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Your soundscapes idea compares with what a music conductor tries to do in a rehearsal to isolate and prioritize sounds. The purpose is to help the performers hear other parts besides their own and make adjustments related to volume balance, tonal blend, intonation, style, and in choral music, word pronunciation. In a similar way, thanks to your post, I look forward to peeling back the layers of sound I hear next time I walk on a beach or sit outside on my deck.
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Tim,
Thanks for providing a wonderful analogy to music. Simply perfect, and another thought I wish I would have included.
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Soundscapes definitely vary according to place–and time of day. But the sound of the sea is special.
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Merril,
Interesting how the soundscape for a place differs – not only within a day – but also day to day, month to month, as well as will the seasons.
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Yes, so true.
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As I pondered a reply, my husband started running the air compressor in the garage – definitely not part of my usual peaceful morning soundscape!
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Eilene,
Now that’s funny! … and definitely would not be something I would want to start my day.
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The sounds of the surf definitely serves as the symphony conductor with bird sounds providing the high notes.
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Monika,
Thanks for walking along and providing an excellent musical reference.
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Trust me, my great pleasure to walk along listening to it.
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🙂
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The sights and sounds of the beach has always done wonderful things to me.
Couldn’t imagine life without it.
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Drew,
They are a true constant!
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The nice thing about a beach and its sounds are even with closed eyes you know where you are.
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Now that’s astute
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The sound of the beach especially walking on the sand. That sound captures the relaxation, the winds blowing our hair and listening all around the people having fun.
“Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice.” ~ Joseph B. Wirthlin
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Charlie,
Amen to your thoughts and the quote you provided!
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You are welcome, Frank. 🙂
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Ah now there’s an idea: visit all variations of beaches and record the sounds for use later on the winter days.
Always sound thoughts on your posts
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Mouse,
Ideas always welcome, so thanks for the interesting thought. 🙂
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The only one I would omit would be the sound of people.
Love that song too. 🙂
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Marc,
Fortunately for me, my winter on the beach is not loaded with people … and the vast majority of the time, the ones I encounter are snowbirds like me … plus, snowbirds aren’t known as loud beach partiers. It’s a time when I bound with the natural beach.
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I could hear the sounds you wrote about, Frank. Love your walks.
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This is wonderful, Frank. It’s lovely when we can pick up all the different parts of nature’s symphony as we walk or sit. I love when I walk outside and hear nothing but silence. There is a moment where time stands still and then a chirp of a bird starts the next movement.
And, of course, you can never disappoint me by using Nat King Cole 🙂
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Dale,
When I selected this song weeks ago for this post, I knew you would love it – so I’m happy you are here. 🙂 … Ah yes – the still of silence in nature. Quiet enough when one can hear the rustling of leaves by the light wind. Yes – the inclusion of a single chirp. Ahhhh … Of course, although the beach is never silent, it’s also a version of white noise. So relaxing. Thanks for sharing your moment.
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I miss the beach… Need to find a way to get there again
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You are a creative thinker – therefore will figure it out.
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That is sweet to say.
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I love the song, and don’t think I have heard it, even though I have several old Nat King Cole LPs. I love the words. And I am very tuned to sound, beach and otherwise. Listening to the water in my backyard or the birds or even the children playing can boost my mood any time. I think the soundscape on the beach is particularly lovely!
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Debra,
Glad to introduce you to this song. The words are fitting for this post. You have written many times about your backyard sanctuary – and I recall pics with the fountain – so I can imagine a bit of your soundscape. Thanks for walking along.
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You have described the beach sounds wonderfully, Frank. I can hear your orchestra, instruments joining the symphony, one at a time.
I fear many would not be affected by the loss of all beach sounds, unless they took their ear buds out, and listened to mother nature, instead of ITunes.
Best!
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Resa,
Glad you enjoyed this. A symphony is a good descriptor for the beach, the woods, or anywhere else. Amazing how many people have earbuds on the people. Occasionally, I do to … but not always!
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You’re back!
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Yep … Announcing next concert Tuesday night.
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Just checked your blog. Will check on Tuesday night! Welcome back! Hey, I’ve been working on a new Art Gown, and she is based on the Tango!
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Awesome … Do you need a song or video?
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I will, eventually. I’ve got some Tango poems by Georgiann. Also, I’ve been doing some Rene Rosso Tango -esque Torch gown drawings. RR is a character Holly (Art Gown to be dedicated to her) and I came up with.
So, it will be a 2 part post. The song would be in the post with RR.
I’d be looking for a Torch song with a Tango feel… or Tango song with a Torchy feel.
Anyway, it’s still a couple months away, as I’ve just started the Art Gown in earnest.
Would love to work you & a song/video you’d pick into the RR post.
When I get enough of the gown done, and another sketch or 2, I’ll show them to you so you can get ideas.
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We’ll keep in touch. Probably email would be best so we can keep the vids our of sight. Glad to help.
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YAY!
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As always, you capture this so well, I feel like I’m there too.
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Betsy,
Well thank you. Hope all is well with you.
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The roar of the surf and the expanse of the sea can drown out all the other noises, which is also wonderful. Nothing like walking on the beach.
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Bumba,
I concur – thus the way I came up with this series. 🙂
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