Trams!

Ever since reading Stuart Dempster's essay on train sounds, named 'Training for Listening: A Lifelong Practice' (in the book, Anthology of Essays on Deep Listening) I have had a fascination for transport sounds. I discovered some great new ones in Manchester yesterday whilst travelling on the Metrolink tram from Market Street to Chorlton.

From being young I can remember travelling, particularly in the car, and I would stare out of the window on the motorway, wondering who the people were in those tiny dots of houses, what they were having for dinner, what they were doing tomorrow, what their cares and worries were, how much money did they have, what it would be like to suddenly swap places... I still do that now. I remember one specific journey where the motorway was closed (it must have been the M1) and we had to take a detour via Chesterfield. My dad pointed out the crooked spire of the church and I kept it in view for as long as possible, making up stories of the people who visited, and people who saw it every day.

Yesterday was no different, and as I listened to the trams I wondered if other people noticed the sounds too, or if they just blended into the background on their way to work or shopping. Maybe they listened without realising, and maybe if you played them the sounds they'd be treated to a 'memory flash' like I had when I listened to my London Underground sounds.

This week I have decided to pick one of Oliveros's listening meditations to practice per day, and todays was as follows:

Imagine a sound you want to hear. During a designated time, such as day or night, take note of when you hear the sound.

My sound was a very high, clear whistle, which although I came very close to hearing I don't think I can say I definitely heard my imagined sound. Which wasn't disappointing, as in listening for my sound I heard and analysed a whole load of other sounds which I otherwise might not have done. Sounds such as the sound of a milk creamer in a coffee shop (not quite whistly enough, too much air), the sound of a man whistling as I walked past him on the streets of Chorlton (nearly there, he was a very good whistler but didn't quite get high enough) and the wonderful sounds of the trams (a bit too percussive and not resonant enough). Perhaps without my deep listening exercise I would not have noticed these great sounds. Thanks Pauline!

Below is a video of the trams, which captures their great whistly (but not quite whistly enough) break sounds, and the very satisfying 'toot!' sound they make when approaching. I challenge you to listen without automatically imitating the sound yourself...

Toot!