Environments Disc 2

Syntonic Research Inc. - Environments Disc 2

For this Sunday's post, we have the beautiful computer generated bell sounds of "Tintinnabulation" and the lovely sounds of the countryside recorded during the morning. There's more information quoted from the liner notes.

TINTINNABULATION (Computer synthesized)

The ENVIRONMENTS concept is far broader than the mere simulation of natural sounds. The effect of sound on our abilities and thought processes is a little understood, mysterious phenomenon. As an illustration of the possibilities currently under examination, SR decided to experiment with bell sounds as an environmental sound source.

The effect we created, based on an oriental theory of musical harmonics, has never been heard before. The sound is bells, but bells so dulcet and beautiful that they affect the subconscious in totally unexpected ways. As a long duration environmental sound source, they are truly superb.

Imagine five different bells, each as big as an average room, which are sounded very, very softly and reverberate for minutes afterwards. The sound seems to float in the air, slowly moving around the room as a physical presence.

Tintinnabulation can be played at any speed, from 78 to 16 rpm, in full stereo. At different speeds, the sounds change in tone and apparent size, although the harmonics remain unchanged. The effect, unlike real bells, is fully controllable by the use of your volume, bass, and treble controls.

A creation of extensive research into computer acoustics, the sound is purposely random, rather than taking the form of a musical composition.

We think you will find Tintinnabulation highly useful for both meditation and relaxation, unlike side two of this disc, which is primarily intended for more active activities. Many people report that they become completely relaxed within the first few moments of play.

DAWN AT NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA June, 1969

The dawn sounds superbly preserved on this disc are sounds which are gradually vanishing from the North American countryside.

Totally different in mood and concept from the sounds of Disc One of this series, Dawn at New Hope recreates the aural environment of a beautiful morning in late spring, complete with owls, crows, doves, insects, dogs, and geese. Our objective was not to make an artifically "beautiful" recording, but a real sound, which seems to get better each time you listen to it.

So many people had written us asking for this specific environmental sound that we felt obligated to give them the finest recording of a North American dawn ever made. In full stereo. On a good high-fidelity system, the sounds produced are so realistic that most people soon forget they are listening to a phonograph record.

The usefulness of the recording is a subtle thing... Walk into a room where it is playing and you may feel the city had suddenly vanished - replaced by serene, verdant countryside. If played in the morning, we think you will find the sounds influence your entire day.

Unlike the "opaque" sounds of Disc One, Dawn at New Hope is a transparent sound which does not neutralize other environmental sounds. Thus, conversations are gentle in tone, and the sound seems to appear and disappear, dependant on your activities of the moment.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Tintinnabulation [33 1/3 RPM] {29:59}

1a. Tintinnabulation [45 RPM] {22:31}

Side 2

1. Dawn at New Hope, Pennsylvania {30:11}

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