Sound 5: Flagpole Symphony

A line of flagpoles make music as the winds from Lake Michigan blow strongly.

This was my last stop on my walk. As it got a bit later, close to 7pm, the weather started to get a bit blustery and cool. The traffic died down around the lake and from Lincoln Memorial Drive I could hear the clanging of multiple flags on flagpoles. I took a ride in the elevator that I had previously recorded and went up to the Mason St. Bridge where the line flagpoles were. In the recording you can hear one flagpole in particular that made the most noise, there's also the faint sounds of traffic and a siren in the background.

Listen to the sounds here.

Sound 4: Empty Elevator

An empty elevator in a vacant parking garage made for a detailed recording.

Along Lincoln Memorial Drive across from the Art Museum there is a large parking structure. As I walked by there were some strange echos of birds and people talking as they left the garage. I decided to explore further. After I explored for a bit I found an enclosed corridor with an elevator. No one was around so I decided to take a ride. In the recording you can hear the elevator ride from start to finish. The quiet 'hummm' of the hallway, then the elevator doors open and the mechanical noise crescendos. The 'ding' for the floor also echos nicely as the doors open and the soundscape changes yet again.

Listen to the sounds here.

Sound 3: Milwaukee, China

A blend of chinese music and the sounds of Milwaukee.

As I crossed the Wells St. Bridge going over the Milwaukee River I came across a Chinese restaurant playing music outside. The music blending with the sounds of the city made for a unique blend. I couldn't help but think of how this reminded me of a DJs remix of different noise environments. The sound recording is a gentle undertone of the Chinese Music which is overlaid by rushing cars, a firetruck siren and a bell ringing signaling the 6 o'clock hour.

Listen to the sounds here.

Sound 2: Urban Migration

Two geese landed as I was recording the sounds of cars going over a drawbridge grate.

There is a drawbridge as Wells St. crosses the Milwaukee River. As cars travel over the grates they make a short buzzing noise. When many cars pass over the bridge the noises form a chorus of different tones. Two geese landed as I began recording. Their noises add an organic dimension to mechanical sounds of cars going over the grates.

Listen to the sound here.

Sound 1: Courthouse Echos

A bus waiting at a stop in a tunnel by the courthouse.

When I approached Wells St. from 9th St. there was a very loud low pitched noise coming from a tunnel across the street and next to the Milwaukee County Court house. The sound drew me in so I went to explore. I finally found the grate where the noise was coming from and it sounded like a very intense generator powering an underground parking garage. This was the sound of the generator. The parking garage was connected to a tunnel and the echos of this tunnel combined with the noise of the generator and a waiting bus make this a one of a kind sound environment.

Listen to the sounds here.

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