"Poc a poc, i bona lletra" - Little by little makes good handwriting; slowly slowly and good pace; keep calm and keep doing.

Poc a Poc is the outcome of spending 20 days in Catalunya, July 2019. I attended Audiotalaia - a sound art residency at El Polell, Sant Esteve de Palautordera, Montseny, and spent time alone on the coast of L’Apolla and beaches of Platja del Fangar, as well as the rocky outcrops of Collegats-Queralt, and the historic town of La Pobla de Segur nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees. I carried out extensive field recordings of the soundscapes I encountered in these three localities. My original intentions were to use these field recordings and immersion in locality to get to know a place and attempt a representation of this through a soundscape composition. Through this process I learned how the subjectivity of this process made my experience, and in turn my art,  extremely personal. 

This is an introspective soundscape composition about the sadness of realising the world’s predicaments; about coming to terms with the state of the world and regenerative care for one’s self within this context. At its core this piece explores a narrative that includes the emotions that accompany the trials of life, and despite this finding beauty in it all. It is also about being; existing in the world and appreciating the more-than-human parts of it while finding our place within this web of life.

The piece was composed using ambisonics for 8 speakers but can be heard here in binaural format. *Listen with Headphones*

Acknowledgements
Musical/sonic quotations in chronological order:
Luca Grappi, Christine Rayburn & Ryan Woods, “Blue Bucket“, (2019).
Djuna Lund Llopis, Marquis’ McGee & Ryan Woods, “Ataraxia“, (2019).
Pete Seeger, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone”, (Sing Out!: 1955).
Laura Marling, “Failure”, Alas I Cannot Swim, (Virgin Records: 2008).

Featuring:
Voice - Djuna Lund Llopis, Ryan Woods
Clarinet - Christine Rayburn
Violin - Sara Galan
Guitar - Ryan Woods

Collective inspiration and conversing voices:
Diego Bermudez Chamberland, Amber-Zoë Cheesman, Edu Comelles, Sara Galan, Geoff Gersh, Luca Grappi, Rory Green, Birgit van der Knaap, Saskia Jae Singer, Lluis Suros, Djuna Lund Llopis, Benn Malca, Marquis' Mcgee, Robert Felix Menczel, Chrystine Rayburn, Lianne Van Roekel.

Poc a Poc

An exploration of the sensoriality of heat through memory 
Pauline Ndhlovu & Ryan Woods

The Warmth Of Other Suns

Dusk Chorus, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields 04/05/2025

Aspen Dusk Chorus

Condensed recording of Dawn Chorus, near western Nico Ditch, Ryebank Fields, 04/05/2025

Nico Ditch Dawn Chorus - condensed

Dawn Chorus, Western Nico Ditch, Ryebank Fields, 04/05/2025

Nico Ditch Dawn Chorus - full

Dusk Chorus, Western Nico Ditch, Ryebank Fields, 03/05/2025

Nico Ditch Dusk Chorus

Blackbird at Dusk, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields, 03/05/2025

Blackbird at Dusk

Robin at dusk, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields, 03/05/2025

Robin at Dusk

Song Thrush at Dawn, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields, 04/05/2025

Song Thrush at Dawn

Wood Pigeon at Dawn, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields, 04/05/2025

Wood Pigeon at Dawn

Wren at Dawn, Aspen Grove, Ryebank Fields, 04/05/2025

Wren at Dawn

Based on a painting of the same name by Mo Vyse.

Mountain Stream in Flood II

Composition for violin and live electronics

An Organic Process

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it - Robert Swan

Featherless Bipeds

This stretch of Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, South Manchester is home to a cacophony of sights, smells and sounds. It’s far more than just curry …

Curry Mile 2018

Before clocks carved out time into measured abstract units of linear, scientific time we lived in mythical time. We experienced time subjectively and walked within the cycles of nature while being deeper in touch with own human cycles. Where life was not constructed by beginning and end but by destruction and renewal; death and rebirth. In these cycles we are able to experience the present moment while relating it to a mythical archetype which allows an experience of mythical present; a timeless now. This is how we construct our lives and indeed our relationship to past and future generations.

Mythical Time

In 1995 eight wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, USA. This resulted in a phenomenon known as a trophic cascade which lead to a flourishing of biodiversity. Predation by wolves lowered the population of elk and dear and the wolves’ presence meant the dear avoided exposed landscapes. Previously overgrazed foliage was allowed to grow again. Aspen, willow and cottonwood flourished. Migratory birds returned to the region. This provided food for an increasing beavers population who made damns in rivers providing habitat for marshy birds, otters, muskrats, ducks, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Wolf Carrion provided food for scavengers, birds of prey and even bears. This process has even been suggested to have changed the topography of the rivers with increased vegetation supporting banks from erosion and decreasing meandering of river courses.

This work sonifies the population of a number of yellowstone species including wolves, elk, Grizzly bears and Bison between 1995 and 2010. Through this sonic tapestry I hope to tell the narrative that rewilding has to offer:

“The hope that our silent spring could be replaced by a raucous summer.” - George Monbiot


Special thanks to National Parks Service, U.S. for the source material for this composition.

Ryan Woods

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