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YANAGISAWA, EISUKE - Path of the Wind

Format: CD Label & Cat.Number: Gruenrekorder GRUEN 182 Release Year: 2018 Note: Aeolian Harp field recordings by this Japanese sound artist (known to some specialists for his 'In the Cave' release on Licht-Ung in 2012), who used a special technique to capture also hints of additional environmental sounds, vibrations of the Aeolian Harp, sounds of ocean and animals, etc.. "The recordings themselves are ecological, meteorological and geomorphological observations at a certain time and place. " all unprocessed from different places in Japan, beaches, forest, mountains.. very nice! Price (incl. 19% VAT): €13.00 More Info The Aeolian Harp (also called Wind Harp) is a string instrument that is played by natural wind. It sounds like layered feedback or drones with rich harmonic textures that will change continuously according to the wind direction, strength and consistency. One day, I bought the materials at the local DIY store and built a small Aeolian Harp. I brought the harp outside on windy days, but it made no sound at all. Through trial and error, by altering the string materials, tension, and the angle against the wind, it finally produced a sound. The harp resonates with the surrounding environment, changing from place to place. I put two lavalier microphones into each of its two holes to clearly record the tiny resonant sounds, without too much wind interference. What is intriguing to me is that the recording will inevitably include environmental sounds from near and far which are condensed and slightly modulated by the harp. In a way, I use the harp as a kind of transducer as well as sounding body to interact with the environment through the forces of the wind. The recordings themselves are ecological, meteorological and geomorphological observations at a certain time and place. 1. Ferry Passing Recorded on the seashore of the uninhabited island called Narugashima in the Hyogo Prefecture, where stiff winds blew intermittently. The sustained low-pitch sounds come from the ferries passing each other off the coast. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 2. Seagull Recorded on the Kehi no Matsubara, a quiet and scenic beach with many pine trees. You can hear the seagull screaming and people chatting while strolling. The beach is located at the foot of the Tsuruga Peninsula where seven nuclear power plants are currently in operation. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 3. In a Park Recorded at the Nodagawa Shinsui Park in Yosano-cho, Kyoto Prefecture. Yosano-cho is a rural town on the alluvial fan surrounded by the mountains; the park itself is located along the Noda River. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 4. Old Camellia Tree Recorded near the 1,200-year-old Camellia tree (Camellia japonica, ‚Kurotsubaki‘) located deep in the valley in Yosano-cho. The height and branch spread of the tree is about 10m, presumably one of the biggest and oldest of its kind. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 5. Ridge Line Recorded in the morning at the Kaetsu Soho Park located half way up Mt. Oeyama in Yosano-cho. Nature and objects on the mountainside fade in and out as the place where the sunlight shines gradually changes. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 6. Hegurajima Hegurajima is a small island located in the Sea of Japan at the far north of the Ishikawa Prefecture. There are various small shrines and cairns on the island. I set up the harp near the Yasaka shrine in which the god of epidemic prevention is enshrined. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 7. Kinshozan Kinshozan is a small mountain located in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture. The mountain is famous for its abundance of fossils like corals, bivalves and snails which inhabited it about 250 million years ago. People started exploiting its high quality limestone and marble during the Edo period, and the mining-activities are still going on today. I set up the newly-made harp at the watchtower of the mountain where I could see the whole mining area. The intermittent sounds come from the drilling of rocks under the cliff. Path of the Wind | Eisuke Yanagisawa 7 Tracks (41′14″) CD (300 copies) All the recordings are unprocessed field recordings using Aeolian Harps of our own making. Recorded in the Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukui, Ishikawa and Gifu prefecture, Japan from September 2014 to November 2017. Recording, Edit, Texts: Eisuke Yanagisawa Audio Mastering: Lasse-Marc Riek Photography: Shin Tukinaga Artwork: Takamitsu Ohta www.gruenrekorder.de/?page_id=16674