Red Hook, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
As we headed toward Sunny’s Bar to hear the music of our beloved Smokey, we were lured elsewhere by a different, mysterious music coming from the darkness of the sea. Out in the harbor we heard what sounded like Tibeten prayer bells mixed with low French horns. We found ourselves sitting for a long time on a bench alongside the water, listening to a free concert played by the surprisingly beautiful music of the harbor. Boat and shipping traffic continues through the night in this busy NY harbor. Because the sea lanes do not have the vibrant lighting system of the city streets, ship captains must rely on sound to navigate, making sure they don’t collide with other vessels or sail through shallow water. There are “bell bouys” and “gong bouys” throughout the harbor, and ships must sound their horn whenever passing closely by another ship. Because the surface of the water carries sound so effectively, anyone on the shore of Red Hook or Staten Island is treated to a symphony of safety sounds, courtesy of New York’s busy shipping lanes. For this symphony, Red Hook Pier is the best seat in the house! (See video below)
Post, images, and video by Thomas Bergeron, a trumpeter, composer, producer, and educator in the classical and jazz music worlds. Check out his music here, or follow him on twitter: @tbergeronmusic
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Discovery Walks is a blog series that challenges residents to actively use their senses to guide urban exploration. To submit a Discovery Walk from your city, check out this post. This series is curated by Insiyah Mohammad, a student at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. Find her on twitter: @InsiyahMohd