Marking the harmonious blend of time in a morning bird song
Alex Braidwood, a renowned acoustic ecologist and sound artist, has created an album that transforms the natural sounds of the dawn chorus of birds into music. The album, titled "Serotinous Repose", offers listeners a unique way to experience and appreciate the serene, awakening sounds of early morning birdlife [1].
Braidwood's work is a fusion of ecological awareness and sound art, capturing and reshaping the beauty and complexity of natural acoustic environments. By turning the dawn chorus—an acoustic phenomenon where birds sing at dawn—into structured music, he bridges environmental science and artistic expression [1].
The title of the album, "Serotinous Repose," suggests a theme of natural timing and rest, resonating with the ecological concept of "serotiny," where certain plants release seeds in response to environmental triggers. This metaphorically connects to the cyclical patterns of nature captured in Braidwood's compositions [1].
Braidwood's work as an acoustic ecologist extends beyond recording dawn choruses. He records natural habitats to raise awareness of biological and ecological processes through sound. His recordings are not limited to his Iowa backyard, but span the world [1].
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Braidwood used his recordings to conduct a weekly online Sunday mass. This unique religious experience, dubbed a "baptism in sound," utilized his recordings of dawn choruses, providing a serene and contemplative environment for worship [2].
In summary, Alex Braidwood's "Serotinous Repose" album creatively transforms the dawn chorus into music, deepening listeners' connection to and understanding of natural soundscapes. His work, which combines ecology and art in an innovative and contemplative form, offers a unique perspective on the beauty of the natural world [1].
[1] [News Source 1] [2] [News Source 2]
