Stream and bird sounds – A Sunday Morning Sermon in the Cathedral of Nature. 7am, 15 May 2016. Shindagin Hollow near Brooktondale, New York. © Lang Elliott. this is a 3D binaural recording; please wear headphones!
This morning I slept in, having gone to a rather loud concert last night with friends. Everyone had a great time, but I became concerned about my hearing and left early. Needing the sleep, I didn’t rise at my usual 4am but instead pulled myself out of bed at 6am, rushing off to Shindagin Hollow to see if I could catch at least the tail end of the Sunday Morning Sermon in the Cathedral of Nature.
I sat near a stream in a favorite spot and breathed easy for awhile, placing my soundscape microphone nearby just for good measure. The bird sounds were thin overall. An ovenbird sang off to one side and I could hear the high calls and occasional songs of a Brown Creeper. It was really quite mellow until a Pileated Woodpecker suddenly gave a laugh-like outburst of notes. About ten minutes later there was another unexpected sound event: a Red-shouldered Hawk landed on a tree not far downstream and gave a series of raucous calls.
Checking out the soundscape in my studio, I am surprised at how relaxing it is, even with the woodpecker and hawk interludes, so I’ve decided to post it so that you guys can catch a bit of nature’s sermon yourselves. I hope you enjoy it. Please chime-in below if you’re moved to speak!
Note: while I was in the hollow, I also chatted to myself, about various things. My voice is slowly improving, so I’ve decided to post my chat here, for those warped souls who might be interested in listening to me babble along with the brook:
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I think I heard a red breasted nuthatch call too
Yes you did!
Both babblings – brook and you – are moving to listen to. Nothing compares to Nature’s healing ability in oh so many ways. Look forward to your future endeavors and news. Great voice!
Thank you Juanita!
It’s my two cents but I’m not fond of brook babbling in the background. It’s sort of like a White Noise and it makes me sleepy instead of paying attention and immersing .
Susanne: Sorry to hear, but rest assured I’ll be posting lots of recordings without stream sounds. Most folks like the “white noise” aspect, but I’ll admit that I’ve received more than one complaint (the funniest was: “listening to water makes me want to pee”.
: >)
Enjoyed listening to this greatly and glad to hear you have lots of interesting things cooking for the future.
Lots cookin’ for sure! Just need to figure out how to get paid for what I do.
Beautiful stuff – it feels so Brand New Day-ish, even though I’m listening as bedtime approaches! Your work cleanses the soul and hones the sensitivity of the (silent) poet in my appreciation of nature – all its sounds, sights, and creatures. I love these gifts you gather and share. Lang, this Music of Nature fan lives in the westernmost reaches of southern New Hampshire. And if your car quest journeying brings you and any co-car-questors to the Keene NH or Brattleboro VT areas at around lunch or at 5, I would enjoy meeting you for a quick lunch or dinner… Read more »
simply makes me believe in nature, the earth and the wheel of life… thank you Lang! These sounds are my gospel.. hugz
: >)
Don’t need ear plugs with this concert.
Would be wonderful if “Music of Nature” was picked up by NPR.
Might happen. But first I need to launch the podcast. I have some friends at NPR that will be giving me some guidance.
My preferred kind of sermon in nature’s church!
Amen and Hallelujah!
Your voice is gentle & kind, it complements the beautiful sounds of nature 🙂 Hope you have a happy & safe trip picking up your new car.
Thank you … and it will sound better down the road.
I was a regular church-goer, till one morning I and my mate were among the Humboldt redwoods in northern California. Ever since we’ve both preferred the music of nature. This morning we listened to an ovenbird out in our yard, watched red-bellied woodpeckers & orioles vie for the oranges we’ve hung out, and said rude things to the grackles & cowbirds & redwinged blackbirds who crowd others from the feeders. And now to listen to Lang’s recordings & musings is yet another pleasure. Thanks!
Dede: Exactly what do you say to the grackles, cowbirds, and red-wings? More to the point: “does it work to yell at them?” : >)
Childhood memory, chapel choir, “I know a green cathedral, a shadowed forest shrine, Where leaves in love join hands above to arch your prayer and mine…” This is such a place. Wholesome, health-giving, life-enthusing joy and beauty. Ain’t life grand, and Thank You!
“a shadowed forest shrine” … sounds wonderful!
Thank you for all that you share with others. I do enjoy hearing and seeing your experiences.
Nature, being in it with all my senses, is the most tranquil kind of experience.
Funny, so many of the bird songs, nature sounds, etc. from New York, sound like early mornings and evenings here on the Gulf Coast. Nature knows how to soothe the soul.
I love the poem Dorothy Frances Gurney wrote:
“The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden,
Than anywhere else on earth.”
Nice poem Ellen.
It’s very soothing. I have enjoyed it immensely.
I’ll look forward to your next adventures and sounds from all over the US in your new Forrester.
Yes, I’ll be a real travelin’ man. I’ve done it before, but not with an active blog and the plan to podcast my adventures to a large audience. My timing is right; podcasting has really taken off over the last couple of years and I might actually be able to make a living doing it.
I like your new voice…sounds like you grew up! And I love the church of babbling brooks and the church of walking by the river that I attend regularly. It continues to teach me to move forward as the flow. Thanks for your ministry, Lang…the happiness in me says howdy to the happiness in you!
happiness meets happiness and generates more happiness! I am so enjoying doing this soundscape work. It is a kind of ministry, but even more-so the simple providing of refreshments along the way.
Fits in perfectly here north of Seattle on a quiet cloudy Sunday morning as I gaze out at the Douglas firs where even the crows are silent.
A hush among the firs … I can imagine the scene and the soundscape.
Thank you for sharing. When I purchased Birds at Dawn form you, I had no idea that I would be enriched by these beautiful meditations. Thank you for your thoughts and spiritual guidance.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying my soundscapes Jim!
and your voice sounds wonderful.
sounding better, so i’m encouraged. still a little scrapy and i still can’t sing. but i’ll bet it all recovers over the next six months.
Wow…gorgeous, and long enough to actually be a nice meditation. Yes…when you left the concert, I totally got the loud part, but fun with X-Ambassadors! Peaceful contrast here…thanks, Lang!
way too loud for me. i just don’t understand what the appeal is.
what a delight. a nice little symphonic experience. I love the woodpecker’s solos. that is one sound that no matter where i am or how i feel, when i hear it i feel such exhilaration and a big smile always spreads across my face. what is the little song at about 2:47-49. And the one at 3:10, then repeating at 3;30? I was looking at the photo part of the time i was listening, because it is almost exactly like a scene where i sit, including the log. And i swear there were a couple moments where i thought i… Read more »
brown creeper
thanks.
Beautiful and so peaceful, Lang – thank you! I especially love that Brown Creeper. Looking out my windows, there’s snow on the ground here in Cleveland and frantic birds at the feeders. I feel so sorry for all the insect eaters! Your recording is a very timely reminder that spring will triumph.
Within a hour of making my recording, the wind picked up and it immediately got colder. Now it’s blustery oustide. This is the same cold front that you’re enduring, having arrived here some hours later.