On the North Norfolk coast sits the village & estate of Holkham. A large Hall & park to the South and to the North a Nature Reserve, owned by the Earl of Leicester who still resides with his family at Holkham Hall. The reserve is managed by Natural England covering around 4,000 hectares, consisting of a whole range of habitats, from green pastures, marshes, pinewoods, sand dunes, and the beach.
It’s a very popular location for dog walkers, Bird watchers, horse riding and holidaymakers heading for the beach.
For this album I tried to record the natural, wildlife setting of some of these habitats with as little interference from humankind as possible. I wanted the listener to feel that he/she is floating in time & space. Pausing at each different location, quietly listening to the wildlife and energy of each position, before gently moving on to the next.
It was an interesting and at times magical experience making these recordings. I hope this album conveys some of that magic and atmosphere of this beautiful place, to you the listener.
Recorded at different times during the winter months over a period of two years.
from
movement (holkham),
released November 1, 2012
movement (holkam) # 2
e) Pinewoods (00:-09:37) recorded January 2012 10:30am.
The Pinewoods at Holkham contain three types of pine tree, Corsican, Scots and Maritime. It’s usually a quite, still area, but on this overcast day there’s a fairly strong South East wind blowing. The sounds of a Squirrel climbing up a tree, is taken over by hundreds of pine trees blowing in the wind, creating an amazing sense of space, which I tried to capture on this recording.
The wind calms a little and a beam of light pierces through the clouds, bathing the trees around me in warm sunlight. Maybe because of a change in temperature or pressure, a new sound begins amongst the wind, pigeon and squirrels. Popping & cracking sounds, as Scots pine begin to discharge there winged seeds. Gently showering down, catching the sunlight as they fall, landing all around me.
A truly magical moment!
A small flock of Herring Gulls fly high, calling overhead and lead me towards the woods edge and the vast open space that is the dunes, beach and sea ahead.
f) Beach & Sea (09:37-17:15) recorded January 2012 11:00am
A bird (possibly a Firecrest) calls on the very edge of the wood, next to the dunes. Straight ahead lies the beach, which at this moment in time is deserted. The roar from the Atlantic brings me ever closer to the sea; finally listening under the waves.
EQUIPMENT USED:
SENNHEISER MKH30/40 MICHROPHONES (M/S SET UP) SENNHEISER MKH70 SHOTGUN MICROPHONE 2X DPA 4060 OMNI MICROPHONES 2X JrF HYDROPHONES
2X JrF C SERIES HYDROPHONES EDIROL R4-PRO RECORDER LARGE FLASK OF COFFEE!
my thanks to: Glyn Ingram and Holkham Hall Estate. Jez riley French, Chris Watson and Piers Warren for all the
knowledge I gained on the Wildeye location field recording courses.
special thanks: Jez, for giving me the opportunity & vision for making this album happen.
Katya & my son Ewan, for being so patient with me leaving the house at all hours!