After living in suburbia for almost my entire life my partner and I moved to a rural home 22 km west of South River, Ontario. It is an area of the near north that is familiar through her family, but one that represented a significant life change for me. Being interested in the sounds of the natural environment, the adjustment has been a favourable one.
In this piece I have combined recordings made while working outdoors or walking around at different times between early spring and late summer. Some key moments include the cat trying to pounce on a squirrel, burning brush, wind, water dripping in spring, the neighbour’s pigs chowing down on household veggie scraps, and ice sounds from the lake.
“while working and walking” was made in 2015-16 and commissioned by New Music Edmonton for the Now Hear This! Festival with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts. Travel funds for this premiere performance was provided by the SOCAN Foundation.