Searching for interesting sounds to record on a cold and dreary northeast Ohio February afternoon, I stop above the Cuyahoga River. I’m on an icy two-lane bridge outside the little town of Boston, Ohio. The river is moving right along and getting higher. Recent snow runoff and freezing rain throughout Cuyahoga Valley National Park these past few days saw to that. My recordings sound okay, but not extraordinary. Irritating traffic noise, from Interstate 271, creeps in, even above the sound of the swift current. The elevated divided highway is only 900 feet behind and above me. It’s tough to get away from its constant drone.
Dejected, I flick an index finger across icicles forming up and down the guardrails. It’s a little kid thing to do I know. Wait a minute. This sounds great. Much better than anything up to this point. I do it over and over again until my outstretched fingers begin to freeze. It’s good to find a little joy in knocking down tiny icicles. Passersby must think I’m crazy. But who cares? The metallic tinkling and clinking the icicles make as I break them off brightens my day. I don’t knock all of them off. That would be wrong. Save some for another inquisitive visitor with a childlike sense of wonder. Plus, it’s just too cold to be doing this any longer.
Have a Listen:
Normally, I count on Mother Nature to make her music. Today, with her help, I’m making some of my own. I hope she doesn’t mind, and you enjoy it.
Recording note:
I used a handheld Sony PCM D100, its built-in mics are in wide mode. I’m waving my index finger left and right in front of the mics that are about a foot away from the guardrail.