Soundscapes: just an idea

D, my sibling, used to make the most extraordinary mixed cassettes for the family. Even back then, their taste in music was wildly eclectic. They blended genres with what I can only call controlled chaos—ska with classical, reggae with Monty Python. I wore those cassettes thin.

Around 25 years ago, I came across some radio programs that introduced me to the idea of "soundscapes." The first one I remember was on the BBC. It wove together music, conversations, interviews, and ambient sounds. If I’m remembering it right, the host told stories about people in all kinds of trades and professions, bringing their worlds to life through sound.

Not long after that, I heard about a museum—possibly MoMA in New York—creating audio guides designed for guests of different ages and backgrounds. One example stood out: a guide for teenagers where two other teens talked about what they were seeing and feeling, with an art teacher chiming in now and then. It was casual, but full of insight, and very human.

What I’ve been hoping to do on the upcoming voyage is something along those lines: to create a few soundscapes of my own. I imagine capturing the rhythms of the ship and sea, recording conversations with crew members, and layering in some of the music D once shared with us. I’m not quite sure how to do it yet—certainly not without D’s help—but the idea has been tugging at me.

Maybe it’s time to listen more closely and begin.