Summer Echoes - An Original Composition Created from Climatological Data

Wed, 09/11/2024 - 8:51pm

When: 2024

In this piece commissioned for Ann Arbor 200, composer and media artist Eloysa Zelada takes us on a journey through a century of climate in Ann Arbor through music and images via data sonification.

From creator Eloysa Zelada:

"Summer Echoes" is a work that translates a century of temperature records into a dynamic musical composition. This project uses temperature data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, spanning the summer months (July, and August) from 1925 to 2024. Created by the media artist Eloysa Zelada, this work delves into the intricate relationship between environmental change and human experience, transforming raw data into an immersive sensory journey.

The foundation of "Summer Echoes" lies in what is known as data sonification, where historical temperature trends are mapped to control various musical and sonic elements. Higher temperatures correspond to increased pitch and distortion, manifesting the discomfort and intensity associated with heat. In contrast, cooler temperatures result in clearer, less distorted sounds. Throughout the piece, listeners will notice rapid shifts between high and low peaks, reflecting the natural fluctuations within the 100-year dataset. This musical volatility aims to mirror the unpredictability and dramatic changes of summer temperatures over time.

Field recordings from parks near the Huron River in Ann Arbor serve as the sole sound material for this composition. The natural ambiance of birdsong, geese calls, trains, traffic, and general park sounds form a rich auditory tapestry. Some of these recordings remain mostly unprocessed, allowing listeners to easily identify familiar environmental sounds. Others have been meticulously edited to create more melodic and harmonic textures, effectively blending the recognizable with the abstract.

The musical composition is accompanied by images from the Ann Arbor District Library’s historic photographs catalog of parks along the Huron River, as well as contemporary pictures taken by the artist themselves. These visuals complement the sonic journey, enriching the sensory experience and providing a visual context to the temperature data. Additionally, a designed visual layer overlays the images, serving as a visual cue to display the current year and data represented in the sound. This helps the audience gain a clearer understanding of how the data controls the evolution and changes within the musical composition.

In "Summer Echoes," temperature is both a motif and a catalyst, highlighting its omnipresence and influence on daily life, the environment, and global ecosystems. Despite often being relegated to the background, temperature profoundly impacts how humans and other species interact with the world. This work serves as a reflection on the importance of understanding historical temperature patterns and their implications, especially in the context of current discussions on climate change and global warming. Although the data from this particular set does not immediately reveal a clear upward trend, the piece acknowledges the broader scientific consensus that temperatures are projected to continue rising over the next 50 years.

"Summer Echoes" invites audiences to experience the historical narrative of Ann Arbor’s summers through a fusion of sound and science. By engaging with this piece, viewers are encouraged to reflect on how seemingly invisible climate variables dictate much of our existence. This integration of art and data not only aims to enhance awareness but also to inspire a deeper appreciation of the complex interplay between nature and human activity.