A Sense of place
Jul 19, 03:46 PM
"What makes a person consider leaving their home and migrating to another country? In America, considered a land of immigrants, people came for a fresh start, a better life for themselves and their family. There have been many waves of migration to the United States in our history including for example from China in the mid 1800’s, many settling in New York City, the Irish beginning in 1845, the Italians predominantly from 1900 - 1914 and so many more.
"New York City had been the entry point and the destination of many who have made the journey, however today, the migration at the southern border has created a division within the country in how we see new immigration. The debate has raised many questions, one of which has had me questioning why people today, in this moment, would look to America as a destination? Especially in this moment when I have contemplated leaving my home based on the outcome of the the presidential election coming this November.
"In thinking about these questions and in looking at the populations who have arrived here in New York City throughout our history, I can only imagine what must go into a decision of this magnitude. This work I am presenting makes an attempt at addressing these questions. It begins as though in a dream, imagine a voyage across a vast ocean and upon arrival, the surreal feelings of finally arriving and navigating through this new land ultimately finding a community of like people and the beginning of a new reality, a new life and a sense of place in this case all on the corner of Mott and Hester Streets in Chinatown, New York City.
"The music for my composition, A Sense of Place, was composed using Logic Pro. The field recording was altered and decontextualized at the opening and in the dreamlike sequence that follows using Audacity until returning the to the original field recording at the conclusion of the piece."
New York Chinatown reimagined by Bill Stevens.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration
"New York City had been the entry point and the destination of many who have made the journey, however today, the migration at the southern border has created a division within the country in how we see new immigration. The debate has raised many questions, one of which has had me questioning why people today, in this moment, would look to America as a destination? Especially in this moment when I have contemplated leaving my home based on the outcome of the the presidential election coming this November.
"In thinking about these questions and in looking at the populations who have arrived here in New York City throughout our history, I can only imagine what must go into a decision of this magnitude. This work I am presenting makes an attempt at addressing these questions. It begins as though in a dream, imagine a voyage across a vast ocean and upon arrival, the surreal feelings of finally arriving and navigating through this new land ultimately finding a community of like people and the beginning of a new reality, a new life and a sense of place in this case all on the corner of Mott and Hester Streets in Chinatown, New York City.
"The music for my composition, A Sense of Place, was composed using Logic Pro. The field recording was altered and decontextualized at the opening and in the dreamlike sequence that follows using Audacity until returning the to the original field recording at the conclusion of the piece."
New York Chinatown reimagined by Bill Stevens.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration