We invite you to a series of fall events dedicated to field recording—the art of recording ambient sounds. Together with Marcin Dymiter, we’ll explore the relationships between place, language, and music.
These gatherings will provide an opportunity to listen to what usually remains in the background—the soundscapes of nature, the city, and everyday spaces that make up our habitat.
For years, field recording has been for Marcin Dymiter not only an artistic tool, but also a practice of mindfulness and a journey into the depths of a place. Initially, it accompanied his music, enriching it with the inspiring sounds of fauna and flora. Over time, it became clear that the city—its dynamics, rhythms, and resonant buildings—also harbors a wealth of sonic worlds that can exist on their own.
This fall’s series of events is an opportunity to reflect on how sound shapes our environment and influences the way we perceive the world. Because sound—though often imperceptible—is an integral part of our lives.
October 7, 7:00 p.m.
Field recording – listening to the local soundscape
For some, field recording is an activity that straddles the line between sound documentation and music; for others, it is a philosophy and a way of life. Yet another approach is an ecological perspective that views the environment as a whole. Another concept involves an almost encyclopedic collection of the sounds of nature. It can also be a hobby—audio tourism is a new way of exploring places and capturing auditory memories. The event will focus primarily on field recordings from Pomerania, which will serve as a way to explore the local landscape. We will also discuss topics related to the pioneers of field recording and the World Soundscape Project.
November 4, 7:00 p.m.
On Language, on Local Identity
How does local culture permeate the collective consciousness? How do borderland languages intertwine with modern technologies and musical trends? We won’t be talking about folk music, but rather about an attempt to explore new musical territories through language. We’ll talk about local music—that is, music that draws on the musical traditions of a specific place in the world—particularly through its use of the local language, which supports this process. We’ll explore how language can become a vehicle for emotions, memory, and identity, and how it influences the way music is created and received. This is a story about sounds rooted in a place but open to the world.
December 2, 7:00 p.m.
Ambient from the North
Are there any characteristics or phenomena that reveal common traits between ambient music and the Gdańsk Bay region? Ambient—is it now merely a historical genre, or can it still serve as a living soundtrack to our overstimulated times? In 2009, Muzak—a holding company that provided music for public spaces—declared bankruptcy, but left behind interesting audio documents such as *Stimulus Progression* and *Muzak: How Our Music Works*. Ambient has endured with its technique of repeated electronic phrases and manipulation of timbre. We’ll discuss projects and albums within this genre that are being created in Pomerania.
The sessions will be led by Marcin Dymiter (Emiter)—a sound artist, musician, and creator of installations and radio plays. His work focuses on sound, space, and field recordings. In his projects, he combines electronics with ambient sounds, exploring the boundaries between music and soundscapes. He is the creator of educational projects and workshops dedicated to active listening and acoustic ecology. He documents the sounds of Pomerania, creating a unique archive of local soundscapes.
Organizer: Palma
Foundation Media partners: Trojmiasto.pl
The Palma Foundation’s projects on Jaśkowa Dolina Street are funded by the City of Gdańsk as part of the “Social Spaces of Culture” program.
