Mountain Brook Nightscape
Mountain Brook Nightscape - featuring Barred Owls. July 2, 2002, at midnight. Shindagin Hollow near Brooktondale, New York. © Lang Elliott. Please wear headphones. Ai-gen photo.
Note: The recording featured here is a "3D binaural soundscape". Please wear headphones for a profound listening experience that will make you think you're actually out there, immersed in the natural world!
In early July, I camp at the bottom of Shinagin Hollow in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, a short distance from a small mountain brook. Around midnight, I am awakened by a distant Barred Owl that screams and hoots from the other side of the hollow. Other owls soon join in. The concert continues for over fifteen minutes, finally ending with a lone owl giving a slow-paced series of simple who-awl calls before disappearing into the night.
I soon fall back asleep, once again surrendering to the soothing, everlasting gurgle of the brook.
The Backstory:
On one level, this could be described as a recording that features the calling of Barred Owls—a species portrait of sorts. But I do not consider it as such. For me, it is a marvelous mix of two primary elements: 1) the tinkling gurgle of the brook that spreads wide across the sound-stage, and 2) the initial scream followed by hoots of Barred Owls, some very distant, some mid-distant, and some quite close.
This recording is full of depth and the calls of the owls do not overwhelm (at least to my ear). In the early days of my nature recording career, I always wanted to get closer, ever so closer, so that the main subject would stand strong against a more distant background. Now I prefer soundscapes where there is a more balanced mix of elements, and I think this recording qualifies. It is truly a lovely recording and one that I treasure. I was so fortunate to be present there, with my recorder running all night not far from my tent, as I passed in and out of sleep!
A Question:
Some folks aren't nearly as excited about watery sounds as I am. I am so water-oriented that I have hundreds of soundscapes recorded near streams. Plus rain recordings of every kind imaginable. Plus ocean waves, inland waves, waterfalls, rivulets … you name it. I literally wallow in water, especially when I sludge through swamps and marshes in search of soundscapes born of the muck.
Some even dislike the gurgles and splashes and tinkles. Some people tell me that the sound of water makes them want to pee. Yet water recordings and especially rain are hugely popular for relaxation.
I am very interested in hearing from others concerning this matter. Maybe I’ve overdone it with regard to water sounds and should spend a few years avoiding any hint of it? Is that even possible for me? But hey, I’m not a Pisces … I’m a Gemini which is not at all watery. Maybe I’m just over-compensating, trying to wash myself clean of too much thinking?
So what, praytell, is your take on this matter?
As always, I truly appreciate your feedback, so please leave a comment below.
Naturally Yours,
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I find the water a pleasant juxtaposition to the intermittent owl calls. Even while sipping a second mug of coffee I could doze to this recording … thanks, for the peacefulness herein.
Lang, Anthropologist Loren Eiseley once wrote, “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” ‘Nuff said!
Absolutely exquisite
The stream has so many tones high and low and complex cadences, the owls also express themselves in so many different ways over and with the water….to me, the stream creates this complex backdrop to hear these magnificent creatures that I have never seen or heard before. They sound large, mighty, willful, with great purpose and intentions, yet they are interested in one another, and have a complex community connection. Those two sounds dominate the night, as they should. Loved every minute of this sound story. I loved hearing the “plop” every now and then…..I don’t think the mic was… Read more »
I would sleep like a baby to this recording. The owls are perfect.
Ya sabes que yo en mis composiciones tengo temas como Aqua en Spotify de Senen Barreiro.
enjoyed this soundscape. sometimes the owl sounds like an excited chimpanzee imo. keep up the good work there.
This is wonderful. I love the brook sounds–I have heard many stream recordings in which the water seems to be recorded too close, so it sounds like water in a bathtub, which I don’t enjoy, but this really does sound like a stream at night. I also love the layered sounds of far away and closer, which makes it feel like I am actually there. The juxtaposition of these two main sounds is also so quintessentially “nature” in that one is incessant and peaceful and detached and the other is a sudden exhilaration of sound that is almost frightening–it evokes… Read more »
So well said! I agree- I love this recording as it makes me feel as if I’m there in that location with these lovely nighttime nature sounds. I think it’s perfect.
I enjoy these sounds of nature a great deal. I used to have several “Environments” LPs: Dawn, disk, thunderstorm, waves, etc. now I don’t even have a usable turntable.
would dearly love to have recordings of Nebraska wildlife; Platte River meadows, Warblers of Fontenelle Forest, SandHills lake, Missouri River woodcock doodling, etc.
please keep it up.
Water is Life! I cherish its melodies.
Amen, Jenny!
I love this capture of the Barred Owl “experience”. To be there, on the ground, witnessing their intimate conversation close-up is simple unforgettable! For the overall soundscape I would like to hear the volume of the stream sounds a bit lower. To actually experience it this prominently, I would have to be lying on the ground right next to it – and that doesn’t feel natural. (Or perhaps I just have to get used to the higher pitches of the water sound with my new hearing aids!)
Actually, I agree. I wish I had placed the mic further from the stream. But instead I put my second mic at a different location altogether. In any event, I still really like it as is.
Wonderful. The stream is relaxing, and the owls aren’t so loud as to be jarring. A wonderful experience.
Nice work, Lang! The interplay between the sounds of water and owl hooting is
both mezmerizing and scintillating.
I’m definitely a water lover! Lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands…water dominates my favorite habitats. I have almost a half mile of clear Ozark creek running through my land to explore. This is a lovely recording.
As for the watery recordings, I love a rain on leaves sound, a soft lapping of lake water against the shore, gentle wave sounds. Most bird sounds are awesome as well. Sounds of nature are always enjoyed, I think people who live in urban areas can really benefit from hearing nature even if they don’t have access to it.
Water sounds are quite enjoyable and even more so when combined with the owls in this recording. As with all art, it is subjective and I hope you continue creating it your way just like you did with the AI cover art. I believe the artist is entitled to create what they feel and you are a remarkable artist. My only wish is that the recordings from the blog make their way into the app so I can continue enjoying them after their initial release here.
All the soundscapes that I’m currently posting will make their way into the app, at a rate of one per week or more (when I unveil new Albums).I plan to greatly expand the app over the next several years. I’m thinking I should probably coordinate things so that I post recordings here a week before they appear in the app.
Thanks for the follow-up. I like the week after idea and greatly appreciate your efforts to record and share these treasures.
I love all the different water sounds, though ocean waves, for me, need to be quieter than other water sounds. Overall, they are very soothing to this ADD/ over anxious person! And I love having water sounds combined with other nature sounds.
it’s actually difficult to find ocean waves that are “quiet” or “gentle’, though it is occasionally possible. Inland lakes, on the other hand, offer more in that respect.
love this. love the sound of water. we as humans are 90% water content. keep it up !!!!!
Great recording and thanks for restarting the blog. The water sounds bring to mind the classic Irving Teibel “environments” long-playing records I owned in the early 1970s. Teibel was a natural sound pioneer (though some recordings I recall were mixed with electronic sounds). I spent late evenings flipping LP sides on a stereo in darkened college dormitory rooms (with ultraviolet blacklights!), dozing to the soothing sounds of waterfalls, distant thunderstorms, and bird calls. Yes, I had headphones!
BTW, his recordings are now available via a mobile app. Here’s a 2018 article about him in the New Yorker mag in which there’s a link to the app. I believe it’s still available.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-magic-of-environments-a-set-of-sound-recordings-that-made-me-pay-attention
Actually, it appears that it is no longer available; let me know if I’m wrong. I think I saw it in Apple’s App Store maybe five or six years ago.
Thanks. I checked and the albums are playlisted on YouTube. Rediscover your analog self! Type in search keywords e.g. Irv Teibel or “Environments -Topic”. I had presumed the recordings vanished in the mists of time.
Where, oh where are my environments LPs now?
Living much of my life in the Pacific Northwest near Puget Sound the rhythmic lapping of those waves (different than the ocean or Great Lakes) has always been a deeply soothing sound for me, very akin to my breath. And having done many hikes in those mountains, one of my joys was noticing how every stream had a unique sound 🙂 (It seems so strange nowadays, living near the large river that runs thru Asheville, NC , that the local rivers are almost all totally silent ! Sandy river bottoms I guess 🙂 So yes….guess I’m a water sounds lover… Read more »
: >)
I ADORE the water sounds combined with the nature calls. You have my undying attention and I could listen longer! Thank you for sharing.
Double ” Amen” to Needie’s comment! I enjoy the variety of water sounds. The thought of sleeping outdoors with the barred owls is wonderful! So thankful that you share these recordings, Lang!
Google AI seems to think I’m on the right track with regard to “wat’ry” recordings (see comments below). Of course, this is to be taken with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, here is what I got from Google: Yes, people highly enjoy spatial, immersive recordings of water—such as rain, waves, and brooks—for relaxation. These sounds, particularly in high-quality spatial audio, effectively lower stress markers, reduce cortisol, and decrease heart rates by creating non-threatening, calming, and consistent environments. They are often used to improve focus, induce meditation, and enhance mood. Key Reasons for Enjoying Water Sounds: Scientific Relaxation: Studies indicate water sounds… Read more »
The Echo, is eerie, lol. But, I love the sound. Not so much the water running. Thank you for recording,Lang.
Not a water person? I am so water-oriented that I have hundreds of soundscapes recorded near streams. Plus rain recordings of every kind imaginable. Plus ocean waves, inland waves, waterfalls, rivulets … you name it. I literally wallow in water, especially when I sludge through swamps and marshes in search of soundscapes born of the muck. Some people tell me that the sound of water makes them want to pee. Yet water recordings and especially rain are hugely popular for relaxation. I would be very interested to hear from others concerning this matter. Maybe I’ve overdone it with regard to… Read more »
I find this so interesting, I’ve moved my response up into the blog post. I can’t wait to hear from others about this matter.
I too am a water person, especially rain! When 7 months old I was tossed in a pool and loved the experience. Been an avid swimmer and scuba diver for most of my life. So, as far as I am concerned, please, PLEASE keep up the water sounds. As we all know, water is essential to life and our wellbeing. Here’s to floating joyfully!
+1, my preference is generally to avoid water sounds unless the album is specifically about water. For example, I want to hear a lot of waves on Ocean Waves. However, I’m not as big a fan of mixing water sounds with other subjects such as birds or insects, or even amphibians. Water is not unpleasant, I’m just not usually around it, so it’s almost as distracting as human vocals to me. I often avoid water soundscapes except rain. Rain is a special case that I love hearing in all contexts. Thanks for the great work over the years. I have… Read more »
What about my Birds and Brooks album?
I definitely enjoy it but I would probably like it even more without the water. The babbling brooks tend to distract me.
Your work with water has the right balance of wildlife, ambient sound, and realism. I wouldn’t change a thing.