Listen to the Ocean

The Sea Organ is an architectural sound art object that produces tones from ocean waves, located in Zadar, Croatia. I've often been asked to add the haunting tones of this installation to myNoise. But acquiring the sound without the noise made by tourists visiting the place is a real challenge. Instead I opted for a redesign, from similar sound sources.

While considering how best to recreate an analogous atmosphere, I immediately thought of Félix Blume, a renowned field recordist and sound artist whom I admire. Two of his works came to mind: Rumours from the Sea – composed of hundreds of bamboo flutes – and Suspiros (Sighs) – made using clay ocarinas. They rely on the same technique: wind instruments deployed in the ocean, to be played by the ocean waves. This proved to be excellent material to recreate the sound of the Sea Organ, as attested by the soundscape now playing.

As part of this soundscape, you'll also find a recording by Frank Hell – a long-term fan of this website – that features the original sounds of the Zadar Sea Organ. You can find this original recording behind the teal slider, which Frank sent me as a little audio postcard during his holiday in Croatia.

I am very grateful to Félix, who kindly allowed me to use his wonderful recordings. With the help of his own artistic installations, we are not hearing waves playing tones, but the ocean communicating with us. Have a listen to each slider separately. What is the ocean trying to tell us? Share your thoughts and findings in the comments section below.

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