WORLD SOUNDSCAPE PROJECT TAPE LIBRARY
EUROPE COLLECTION


Bagnes, Valais, Switzerland, 1992-94, recorded by Claudia Pellegrini
Recordings made with TEAC DA-P20 DAT recorder, Neumann KU81 Original Kunstkopf microphones, plus MKE + binaural panel constructions and Sennheiser ME40
Composition realized in the Sonic Research Studio, SFU

A

1.  INALPE (going to the Alpes) OF LA CHAUX, June 9, 1993, 31:10

2.  A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE SHEPHERDS IN LA CHAUX, Aug. 16-17, 1993, 18:45

3.  ON THE WAY TO FIONNAY, May 26, 1992, 7:00

4.  TINTIN AU PAYS DES SONNETTES, August 14, 1993, 16:18

5.  ON THE WAY TO LA LIA, July 10, 1992, 5:00

6.  DESALPE (return from the Alps) OF CAVOUETTE, September 9, 1992, 19:20


COMMENTARY

1. Water, people "worrying" on the day before inalpe; inalpe day: arrival of the herds of cows, bells (3:45), cows (6:50), cows' "war cries" (12:36), priest blessing the herd and shepherds (13:35), cows fighting and onlookers' comments (18:53 cowbells throughout), cows leaving the meadows, big lunch on the grass with the owners of the cows and insect ambience (22:37) with music, whistling and singing (29:08)

2. Cowbells throughout, female voices, man and woman walking on gravel path and talking, shouting to the cows, more cowbells (multiple pitches), cows bellowing, more shouting and some whistling, unidentified rhythmic machine  (13:12), working inside reverberant room, outdoors again with cowbells, rushing stream

3. Chermontane's herd (120 cows) going through the Tsépi tunnel; quiet beginning, eerie reverberation as the cows and shepherds approach the recordist, with the cowbell sounds creating a smooth texture that progressively becomes more defined and rhythmic, with some individual bellowing (5:27), fades out at the end. Beautiful take.

4. Pasturing with the queens (female cows) and shepherds in Chermontane. River, cowbells, men telling stories, conversations and cowbells throughout; airplane passing overhead (14')

5. Chermontane's herd going through the Mauvoisin tunnel; similar to take 3 but with water splashing in the tunnel and a shorter crescendo and descrescendo, then several other approaches and passings, strong resonance

6. Cows leaving the high pastures at the end of the season and walking down to the valley; celebration for the final Queen of the herd. Cowbells throughout, cows bellowing, shepherds shouting to the cows at a distance, some close-up individual bells, shepherds close up (3:30), clapping (7:21), individual cows (13:30), dense texture of bells and bellowing (16'), ends with a river flowing and a male voice indoors speaking in clear French

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