At least 94 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed Nov.10, 2023

At least 103 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Nov. 10, 2023

At least 41 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Nov.12, 2023

Trickles of communication from Gaza. Ground invasion has commenced. Hospitals have been taken over by Israeli troops. It’s difficult to get any information or reports of lives lost. Today we play for a duration of seconds equal to the known number of children reported to have been killed in Gaza since we last got word (Nov. 15).  Batya Sobel and Kathy Couch created this chance composition through a duet form of deep listening in which we simultaneously made sound using glass bottles while physically and sonically separate. The individual recordings are merged, but otherwise unaltered, to create this sonic memorial. Every precious life lost equals one second of time in these recordings. Every body is a vessel–for breath, for water, for memory, for possibility. Recorded on Nov. 16, 2023.

At least 60 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Nov.15, 2023

At least 1,130 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Nov.16, 2023

At least 310 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed on Nov. 23, 2023

At least 450 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Nov. 26, 2023

Since the assault on Gaza began again, information has been sparse. Because there is no halt to the ongoing genocide and few structures of any sort remain in Gaza, it is extremely difficult for those who remain to share any information of what they are enduring. Today we play for a duration of seconds equal to the known number of children reported to have been killed in Gaza between Dec 8. and Dec. 18.  Batya Sobel and Kathy Couch created this chance composition through a duet form of deep listening in which we simultaneously made sound using glass bottles while physically and sonically separate. The individual recordings are merged, but otherwise unaltered, to create this sonic memorial. Every precious life lost equals one second of time in these recordings. Every body is a vessel–for breath, for water, for memory, for possibility. Recorded on Dec 18, 2023.

At least 1270 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Dec. 8, 2023

Since the assault on Gaza began again, information has been sparse. Because there is no halt to the ongoing genocide and few structures of any sort remain in Gaza, it is extremely difficult for those who remain to share any information of what they are enduring. Today we play for a duration of seconds equal to the known number of children reported to have been killed in Gaza between Dec 18. and Dec. 25 (Christmas Day).  Batya Sobel and Kathy Couch created this chance composition through a duet form of deep listening in which we simultaneously made sound using glass bottles while physically and sonically separate. The individual recordings are merged, but otherwise unaltered, to create this sonic memorial. Every precious life lost equals one second of time in these recordings. Every body is a vessel–for breath, for water, for memory, for possibility. Recorded on Dec 27, 2023.

At least 630 more Children: A Sonic Memorial to the children of Gaza killed since Dec. 18, 2023

Israel assassinated the young & impactful Gazan journalist Anas al-Sharif yesterday.  These bells are for him. 

Bells for Anas al-Sharif

Batya is an oboist and composer-improviser.  With a focus on experimental new music and sound, Sobel views her art as an offering of honesty and vulnerability. At Hampshire College, she studied with Dr Yusef Lateef, who became a life-changing mentor. Batya is a lay homeopath, a marketing consultant for print music publishers, and a caretaker of older horses. As Brother Yusef said, ‘remember to express the beauty.’

Sobeltone