Summer is here! School’s out, weekends never seem long enough if you’ve been at work all week, and the outdoors becomes the place to be. We’ll look at summer through sound, and a few pieces of music, and see how many different sounds evoke this wonderful season.
The sun has come up, and the birds start to make their statements. The European Robin, the Hooded Crow, and doves all greet the new day.
Dawn at the Acropolis (photo by Maureen Buja)
Dawn Chorus
Your friends are up and about on their bikes because you can hear their bicycle bells in the distance.
Bicycle Bell at a Distance
The local church sounds the hour with the Westminster Chime. It’s time to get out and go!
Church Bells: 12 Melodic Vibrating Hit Rings
Now, where to go? If off to the countryside, then it’s the sounds of animals in the fields that you might hear.
Cows with bells
Cowbell Swing Rings
If you go to the seaside, then it’s the roar of the waves and the equally loud roar of all the beach people.
The Jersey shore
Beach Ambience: Surf, People Playing
If you go down to the pond, then there will be different water sounds.
Pond
Pond Ambience With High Calls, Chirps and Songs
Out in the countryside, the little insects are active: grasshoppers and, as it gets hotter, the katydids come out.
Grasshoppers in Daytime
Katydid Buzzing
Perhaps it’s time to just lie down and rest your eyes for a bit. Nope, nope, nope, that couldn’t possibly be you making that noise!
William Sydney Mount: Boys Caught Napping in a Field, 1848 (Brooklyn Museum)
Gurgle Monster Snoring
In the evening, let’s go to a concert. Down at the park, there’s something fun going on, and the crowd is waiting for it to start!
New York Philharmonic, Concert in the Park
Large Mixed Crowd in Symphony Hall
The orchestra tunes.
Orchestra Tuning While You Wait in Your Seat
In our concert, Samuel Barber brings us back to his childhood in Knoxville, in the summer of 1915.
Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24 (1947 version for voice and orchestra) (Karina Gauvin, soprano; Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Marin Alsop, cond.)
Afterwards, as you step out into the plaza, children are celebrating with some small firecrackers.
Many Firecracker Bubble Pops (version 2)
But, down in the park, the big fireworks show is on.
Fireworks Display from Spectators Perspective
After the show, the local band starts with Sousa Marches.
Dekalb, IL Municipal Band, Kirk Lundbeck, dir. – Concert Shell with fireworks
John Philip Sousa: March: King Cotton (Royal Artillery Band; Keith Brion, cond.)
And closes with one of Sousa’s most familiar works. Listen out for those piccolos at the end!
John Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever (Philip Jones Brass Ensemble; Elgar Howarth, cond.)
It’s late, and everyone is home, tired after a long day outdoors, and it’s only the owls who patrol to watch through the night.
Tawny Owl at Night
Owls Make Mournful Calls
How does your summer day go?
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