Hofstra Drama 20 – Sound for the Theatre

Location : Hofstra USA

Sounds in Clip : Various levels of talking/chatter from various distances, phone dropping on table, bags being dropped on chair, hollow bottle being dropped on table, clanking and moving of chairs

Location: Al Hirschfeld Theatre during intermission at a performance of Moulin Rouge

Sounds Heard: 

• constant chatter from all directions 
• background music from the Moulin Rouge sound track or as learned in this class the “framing effect. “
•  announcement bells that intermission is coming to an end and to go back to your seats. 

1- March 3, 9:40am, LIRR train from Mineola to Penn

2- High pitched humming in the background due to the heating system at the other end of the car, other train-like mechanisms make soft noises off and on.

3- The sounds of the train moving on track creates a hypnotic lull, an announcement is made regarding the next station and that patrons should watch the gap between the train and the platform,  the doors ding and slide open with a groan

4- The person in the seat in front of me coughs occasionally and ruffles the papers of their newspaper; when the doors open, a large gaggle of high school girls with a chaperone, talking and laughing loudly – clearly on a field trip of some kind. They discuss a woman they saw on the train another time who decided to appear in public topless in high pitched voices, talking over each other and finishing each other’s sentences.

5- The sound level and activity begin at a low and are abruptly shifted to a high sound level and activity

6- Interrupted

7- The background humming, the clacking of the train tracks, and before: the shuffling of the newspaper, after: the loud chatter and laughter

1- 2/14/2013 (Happy Valentine’s Day all!)-3:57 pm- in the middle of the food section of Au Bon Pain on campus.

2- Sounds farthest away: Hissing of what sounds like a latte machine, staff at the sandwich-making stand yelling customer’s names and orders.

3- Sounds at medium range: People shaking out plastic bags to grab food, constant low hum from the refrigerated food aisle.

4- Sounds at closest range: People chattering at various volumes, sometimes yelling very excitedly, loud laughter, the sporadic screech of shoes against the tile floor, soup lids clanking, muffled shuffling of feet walking by.

5- General sound level and amount of sound activity: Sound level is very high and tumultuous. There are no peaks and valleys, highs and lows. The sound is at a constant high chaos and there are no lulls. There is no harmony or order to the various sounds. The origins of the majority of the sounds are very near me, which could potentially make others feel claustrophobic however to me it is not at all off-putting, but rather a happy and exciting chaos.

6- One word description to the “sound environment”: Lively.

7- 3 sounds essential to the sound environment. People chattering at various volumes, muffled shuffling of feet walking by, staff at the sandwich-making stand yelling customer’s names and orders.

Location: Colony Diner, Uniondale, NY

Date: February 18, 2011

Time: Midnight

Clip Includes: Soft Jazz music in the background, some snapping, loud chatter, basic table noises (glasses, utensils, plate being moved around, etc).