Education: Community and Sound Series Video 1: "The Soundmark"

The Soundmark (4:34) "The Community and Sound Series" is a collection of videos designed to educate a community about the sonic uniqueness or character of a place.  Through this awareness, citizens may learn how to promote, protect and take pride in their soundscapes. "The Soundmark" is the first video in the series introducing the public to the principles and key terminology of acoustic ecology. The programs are produced by Kenya D. Williams of AdoreRecordings in Portland, Oregon. 

Source: VIMEO

Documentary: David Rothenberg - Why Birds Sing

Why Birds Sing (15:01) BBC. Inspired by musician and eco-philosopher David Rothenberg's book of the same title, this documentary explores the intriguing, charming, complex and often conflicting theories on why birds sing like they do and why humans are so attracted to the sound.

The film features contributions from musicians including Laurie Anderson, Jarvis Cocker and Beth Orton; enlightening and often startling analysis from some of the world's most eminent birdsong scientists; a literary guide to birdsong in poetry; a bizarre birdsong-themed art 'happening'; the creation of a new musical composition from the Afro-Celt Sound System, entirely made up of manipulated birdsongs; and a strange musical duet at New York's Bronx Aviary, featuring humans and birds.

Filmed in the forests, aviaries, studios and laboratories of England, Germany and the USA, this is a colourful, entertaining, informative and occasionally weird journey through the songs of nature that have enchanted and perplexed humans for thousands of years. Produced by the BBC.

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David Rothernberg Interspecies Musician and Philosopher (3:50) NJIT. Dr. David Rothenberg, best-selling author and acclaimed clarinetist, discusses his work researching animal communication, bird song, and music. His interest is in bridging art and science. Rothenberg received his PhD from Boston University and his BA from Harvard University. Produced by the New Jersey Institute of Technolgoy.

Source: YouTube

Bird Songs (2:1) PBS. Scientist and musician David Rothenberg takes discussion of bird songs a step further than biological imperative, and recognizes these tunes distinct to each species as music. Rothenberg is a professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with a special interest in animal sounds as music. He is also a jazz musician whose books and CDs reflect a longtime interest in understanding other species by making music with them. Reference: David Rothenberg Why Birds Sing: A Journey Into the Mystery of Bird Song (Basic Books, 2005)

Source: PBS

Soundscape Composition: Crane Sunday

Crane Sunday (6:10) By Michael Peters. This is a sonic montage of recorded sounds including underwater insects, planes crossing overhead, and contact microphone recordings from under a bridge. The recordings were mostly made in the same small harbour in Cologne, Germany. The only exception is a pump organ that was recorded in a Stockholm museum. More information online: www.michaelpeters.de

Source: Vimeo

Research: David Dunn's Sonic Beetle Wars

Sonic Weapons Against Bark Beetle (2:30) Forest scientists at Northern Arizona University's  Ecological Restoration Institute are desperate to stop the massive devastation from bark beetle infestation, have recruited a powerful and unconventional force to fight this fierce little bug—Santa Fe musician and composer David Dunn. (Produced by Inside NAU)

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Beetle Mania. (2:51) The work of Assistant Professor Richard Hofstetter, Research Assistant Reagan McGuire and composer David Dunn has been receiving a lot of attention lately. The trio has been working on a unique approach to controlling bark beetle outbreaks, by turning their own sounds against them. Their work has been the subject of more than 50 stories in newspapers and magazines, as well as on television and radio. (Produced by Inside NAU)

Source: You Tube

Soundscape Composition: City Symphony from August Rush

City Symphony. (1:35) A soundscape composition segment from the movie August Rush in which Evan Taylor/Autumn Rush (Freddie Highmore) discovers New York's sonic rhythm. The film concludes with August saying "The music is all around us, all you have to do is listen."

Source: YouTube

Soundscape: Rainforest Bird Communication

Bird Call (1:45)  Birds of the dense rainforest have evolved unique vocalization techniques to make themselves known.  In this short video David Attenborough looks at some of the loudest birds on the planet - including the decibel generating screaming toucan.  From the BBC.

Source YouTube

Soundscape Composition: "Long After We're Gone" by Nerina Penzhorn

Long After We're Gone (3:56) This is a soundscape piece composed by video producer and editor Nerina Penzhorn who notes that the work is comprised of "... video and audio field recordings in and around the Gowanus Canal, one of the most polluted waterways in the US.   The title comes from a conversation I had with Eymund Diegel, who took me out on the canal by canoe. Eymund is an Urban Planner with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Gowanus Canal. He talked about the natural streams that have been flowing into the canal for centuries and that will still be around long after we're gone."

Source: Vimeo

Noise Issues: Leaf Blowers - Orinda, California

Coming to Blows (6:34) The battle over leaf blowers all across the country is being led by a couple in Orinda, California who are just fed up with the noise. John Blackstone reports. CBS Sunday Morning.

Source: CBS

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East Bay town fights to outlaw leaf blowers (2:00) Some residents in the East Bay hope to follow the lead of other Bay Area cities by banning leaf blowers.

Source: KGO-TV ABC-7 Local News San Francsico