Binaural Radio Rural: A podcast around rural sounds and archives

Binaural Nodar
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Binaural Nodar is a rural based sound and media arts organization located in the rural Viseu Dão Lafões region (Portugal), where since 2006 have been hosted over 180 sound and media arts projects developed in close connection with the local geographical and social contexts. Binaural Nodar is also a sound art collective that produces its own pieces, particularly those created by Luís Costa, Maile Colbert, Rui Costa, Ana Rodríguez and Manuela Barile.

  1. Mar 29

    Binaural Radio Rural #33 - Série Tramontana: Comuns, Comunals, Comunales

    Continuamos a apresentar uma série de podcasts de Binaural Radio Rural integrada no projeto Rede Tramontana, co-financiado pelo programa Europa Criativa, que consiste numa cooperação entre onze organizações culturais de zonas montanhosas de Portugal, Espanha, França, Itália, Roménia, Polónia e Albânia, todas elas a trabalhar na intersecção entre a investigação etnográfica e as práticas artísticas contemporâneas. Ao longo dos episódios desta série de podcasts, abordamos de forma criativa temas rurais como o agropastorismo, a transumância, as manifestações e simbologias da água, a mudança social e o seu impacto na paisagem e na produção e consumo de alimentos, a migração ucraniana para as zonas rurais da Europa, entre outros. Este episódio, realizado em coprodução entre a Binaural Nodar, a AEPGA e a Sincròniques, uma organização cultural da comunidade valenciana, consiste numa viagem ao longo do tempo e do espaço sobre como se desenvolveu o espírito comunitário, desde os alvores das civilizações mediterrânicas, até ao sentido atual da gestão coletiva de montes pelas comunidades de baldios, viagem essa que foi trilhada a partir das reflexões de vários especialistas ibéricos, assim como pelo acompanhamento de uma experiência concreta de revitalização de baldios, em curso na freguesia do Gafanhão, pertencente ao concelho de Castro Daire na região portuguesa de Viseu Dão Lafões. Entrevistas conduzidas por Luís Costa e Ana Rodríguez Entrevistas a Ramón Puig, Miguel Nóvoa, Paulo Quintela, Emília Pereira, Arlindo Pereira, Maria de Fátima Camões e Fernando Camões. Paisagens sonoras, masterização, textos e voz de Luís Costa Texto adicional de Félix Rodrigo Mora, extraído do seu livro El Comunal de 2022 Peça musical de Sara Fevereiro.

    Binaural Radio Rural #33 - Série Tramontana: Comuns, Comunals, Comunales

  2. Mar 13

    Binaural Radio Rural #32 - Tramontana Series: Beehiving

    We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between eleven mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series, we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water manifestations and symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. In this episode we present “Beehiving”, a collective sound piece created by Luis Costa, Rui Costa, and Manuela Barile for the Italian cultural organization Stazione di Topolò, in the border between Udine province and Slovenia. It was initially presented in 2010 as part of the 24-hour live and web event “To Be Continued,” which brought together works from artists worldwide reflecting on health, physical and mental well-being, disease prevention, and medical education. This sound journey explores the aural and symbolic world of bees and beekeepers in the rural Portugal, emphasizing both the anthropological and the metaphorical significance of the hive as a functioning community. The sound piece immerses listeners in the natural rhythms and hums of the beehive, in the voices of beekeepers, addressing the complexities of the world of beekeeping, and in electronic and vocal experimentations, metaphorically suggesting a balance between nature and human care. The activity of bees and their complex social behavior serve as a sonic analogy for the interconnectedness of physical and psychological health. Through this auditory experience, the piece proposes a deeper understanding of the ancient practice of beekeeping and its relevance to contemporary concerns about well-being and environmental harmony. Medieval texts frequently mention beekeeping as a model of social organization. Authors such as Albertus Magnus and Hildegard of Bingen wrote about the hive, noting the division of labor and cooperation among bees as a reflection of ideal community structures. In his treatise "De Animalibus," Albertus Magnus described the bees’ roles and their collective effort, drawing a comparison to human society’s need for order and collaboration. Similarly, Hildegard’s writings connected the harmony within the hive to spiritual and social health, suggesting that the success of a community depends on the care and responsibility shared by all its members. By engaging with the traditions of Portuguese apiarists through this sound piece, listeners are invited to reflect on how community can inform our understanding of social cohesion today. Just as bees construct their hive with precision, cooperation, and resilience, human societies require attention, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose to thrive.

    Binaural Radio Rural #32 - Tramontana Series: Beehiving

  3. 12/20/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #31 - Tramontana Series: Thermal Sonic Immersion

    We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between eleven mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water manifestations and symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. In this episode we present “Thermal sonic immersion”, a creative work by Binaural Nodar’s directors Luís Costa and Rui Costa together with Spanish cellist Nati Plascencia, that was created in 2019 for a series of concerts in spas of the Portuguese region of Viseu Dão Lafões. The sound piece mixes poetic reflections on the virtues of thermal water with recollections from local inhabitants on the history of theis spas, in this specifc case Caldas da Felgueira in the municipality of Nelas. Welcome to Thermal Sound Immersion, an experience that stimulates concentration and serenity. We suggest you try silence, gently entering this flow of sounds, images, and memories of the thermal baths. How about closing your eyes from time to time? How about remembering the happy moments you have spent in rivers, beaches, and thermal baths? How about getting into a comfortable position, sitting or lying down on the cushions? Don't feel self-constrained. Be as if you were at home. Water, symbol of all the virtues of the world. Water, source and origin of all beings. Water, essence of vegetation and principle of all healing. Water, foundation of the manifestation of the cosmos on earth. Water, substance bearing divine virtues. Water, bath, healing What is a thermal bath? Each cell maintains a double movement Of assimilation and dissimilation, In other words, life. The skin breathes, being traversed by substances. Which in turn come into contact with other cells So, knowing the characteristics of water, The benefits of the respective chemical agents are assumed. Baths of water that spring forth hot, water with medicinal virtues due to the minerals through which they pass Before bursting forth onto the earth.

    Binaural Radio Rural #31 - Tramontana Series: Thermal Sonic Immersion

  4. 09/21/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #30 - Tramontana Series: A River with a Thousand Voices

    We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between eleven mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water manifestations and symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. “Around the river Bend” is a sound piece by Binaural Nodar’s director Rui Costa that was composed from a variety of sound sources and compositions created for or recorded at Paivascapes - Paiva River Sound Festival. This festival took place between March 4th and 8th of 2011 in various locations along the Paiva River, in Center Portugal, and included a program of sound installations, performances, video screenings and conferences dedicated to the exploration of riverside locations and communities through sound and multimedia art. Following Patrick McGingleys's invitation to dedicate one of his Framework radio shows to the festival, Binaural Nodar asked everyone that was part of Paivascapes to send a sound excerpt related in some way to the festival. The resulting piece features a variety of locations, times of day, seasons, and contexts including recordings of the festival performances, source material collected by the artists for their sound and audiovisual installations, sound clips included in Binaural Nodar Digital Archive, spontaneous recordings of social gatherings during the festival, and improvisations made by children inspired by the river soundscapes or by the names of the places where the festival happened. The resulting work offered an aural window into a unique experience and, in a certain way, serves as a metaphoric tribute to this unique spatial-temporal context that imagined river with a thousand voices. Sound composition by Rui Costa Source material performed, composed or recorded by: Anna Hints, Charles Stankievech, Duncan Whitley, Ignaz Schick, Jez riley French, Lasse-Marc Riek, Luís Costa, Maile Colbert, Manuela Barile, Marc Behrens, Marja-Liisa Plats, Patrick McGinley, Phill Niblock, Rui Costa, Samuel Barile Costa, Students of Canelas Primary School and Tiago Carvalho.

    Binaural Radio Rural #30 - Tramontana Series: A River with a Thousand Voices

  5. 08/26/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #29 - Tramontana Series: Paths of Grass & Rock

    Tramontana Series Episode nº 29: Paths of Grass and Rock We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between eleven mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. “Paths of grass and rock” is a sound work that narrates a trail of voices, steps, silences, breaths, noises and dangers; a trail that traces the paths of transhumance in Europe, uniting the mountain landscapes of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Romania and Albania, through a centuries-old practice that brings human, animal and vegetal beings into play in a pact of resistance, coexistence and mutual connection. In “Paths of grass and rock” shared gestures resonate, such as the slow rhythm of the march, the blows of the sticks, the whistles and calls of the shepherds, the breathing of the herds and flocks, the barks of the dogs when they warn of the threatening presence of the wolf. Luís Costa and Gianfranco Spitilli’s sound composition creates a soundscape of encounters between times and places, being constructed from in situ recordings made over the years in many places near and far. In this sense, it does not tell a linear story but rather immerses itself in the time of the seasons of transhumance, made up of departures and returns, losses and reunions, bodily memory and constant adaptation. This sound work is part of a multimedia exhibition with the same title that is being exhibited in Senales (South Tyrol, Italy) and Castro Daire (Viseu Dão Lafões, Portugal), one that was curated by both Gianfranco Spitilli and Luís Costa and that includes texts, photo, video and sound materials organized and contextualized from a vast set of archives of the aforementioned countries, being prduced by Binaural Nodar, Bambun APS and PanSpeech and hosted by the Municipality of Castro Daire (Portugal) and the Municipality of Schnals / Senales (Italy) This is an initiative that has the collaboration of the Creative Europe funded-project Tramontana Network, the Higher School of Art and Design of Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) and its research centre LiDA, the University of Aveiro (Portugal), the ID+ research centre, the University of Molise and its research centre Biocult, and the PRIN Wildebate project - Coexistence, bio-cultural friction and pastoralism in protected areas, the University of Teramo, the Central Institute for Catalogue and Documentation in Rome and the Digital Itineraries project, together with the Municipality of Castro Daire (Portugal) and the Municipality of Schnals / Senales (Italy). The project is also co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Portuguese General-Directorate for the Arts.

    Binaural Radio Rural #29 - Tramontana Series: Paths of Grass & Rock

  6. 08/25/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #28 - Tramontana Series: Quiet Rain in the Mountain

    Tramontana Series - Episode nº 28: Quiet rain in the mountain We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between 11 mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. Rain has long been more than mere weather; in the earliest myths and cosmogonies, it represents a vital force shaping the world and the human experience. In ancient Greek mythology, rain was often seen as a gift from Zeus, the sky god whose thunderclouds brought life-giving water to the parched earth. This celestial rain was intertwined with divine will, a symbol of renewal and the sustaining power of nature that connected gods and mortals alike. Roman traditions, inheriting much from their Greek predecessors, also revered rain as a sacred element. The god Jupiter, akin to Zeus, controlled the skies and storms, wielding rain as both a blessing and a weapon. In Roman cosmogony, rain was crucial in nurturing crops and sustaining the bustling cities of the empire, a reminder of the delicate balance between civilization’s progress and the forces of nature. Christian cosmology introduced rain as a divine instrument of both mercy and judgment. Biblical narratives speak of rain in contexts like the Great Flood, where it served as a purifying force to cleanse the world of corruption. Rain became a symbol of God’s providence, washing over the land to bring growth and renewal, but also a reminder of humankind’s need for repentance and humility before the divine. The Celtic worldview embraced rain as an intimate part of the natural and spiritual landscape. In Irish and Scottish traditions, rain was woven into the rhythms of the land, often seen as a messenger or a blessing from the Otherworld. It sustained the lush green hills and ancient stone circles, linking the physical earth to ancestral spirits and the ever-turning cycles of life and death. Across these civilizations, rain emerges as a profound symbol—dancing between earth and sky, life and myth, the human and the divine. This podcast episode is a sort of homage to rain in rural contexts, intertwining recordings made in 2025 in several Portuguese locations, including poem readings, memories of rain in the village of Nodar, improvisations with rain in Vouzela and a sound walk to a stomp mill in the river Vouga near the the village of Paraduça, this being a water evidence that maybe is connected with rain that fell on distant European mountains

    Binaural Radio Rural #28 - Tramontana Series: Quiet Rain in the Mountain

  7. 04/07/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #27 - Tramontana Series: Children of Water

    Tramontana Series - Episode nº 27: Children of Water We continue to present a series of Binaural Radio Rural podcast that is part of the Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, which consists in a cooperation between 11 mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that all work in the intersection between ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout the episodes of this podcast series we are creatively addressing rural-based subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water infrastructures and symbologies, social change and its impact on landscape and food production and consumption, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and more. The connection between children and water is profound, echoing through literature, mythology, and cultural practices. Water symbolizes life, purity, and rebirth, capturing the innocence and wonder of childhood that resonates deeply within various societies and cultures. Symbolically, water evokes the idea of returning to the womb, reminiscent of the amniotic fluid that nurtures a fetus. This connection signifies safety and comfort, reinforcing the desire for children to play in water, whether splashing in a puddle or swimming in a pool. The pleasure derived from water activities creates an emotional link to the peacefulness of the prenatal experience. Just as we are cradled in the protective embrace of water before birth, children often find solace and joy in aquatic environments, allowing them to reconnect with that primal essence of being nurtured. Throughout history, water has been revered in various civilizations as a source of sustenance and spiritual cleansing. In ancient cultures, such as those in Egypt and Mesopotamia, children were often introduced to rituals involving water, linking them to life's cycles and the divine. For many Indigenous peoples, rivers and lakes are sacred spaces filled with teachings and stories handed down through generations. This strong association showcases water as a vital element in nurturing not only the body but also the spirit, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a connection to nature in childhood. In religion, water often represents purification and renewal. In Christianity, baptism signifies the cleansing of sin and the initiation into a new life. Similarly, in Hinduism, the Ganges River is seen as a source of spiritual rejuvenation. Such practices highlight how children are introduced to concepts of life, death, and rebirth through their interactions with water. This early exposure might serve to shape their understanding of existence, connecting them to broader cultural beliefs. Ultimately, the bond between children and water is a multifaceted relationship that encompasses joy, symbolic connections, and cultural significance. From the splashes of a child in a summer lake to the quiet contemplation of water’s depths in stories, this relationship invites a sense of exploration and wonder, which in itself encapsulates the deep meaning of childhood. The sounds from this episode were recorded during a field recording series of workshops that were held in the summer of 2024 in several rural villages of the municipality of Vouzela and which methodology promoted the interaction of children with water sounds. Special thanks to the municipality of Vouzela for inviting Binaural Nodar to develop this series of sound workshops.

    Binaural Radio Rural #27 - Tramontana Series: Children of Water

  8. 03/05/2025

    Binaural Radio Rural #26 - Tramontana Series: Water and Death

    Episode nº 26 - Water and Death We present a new & long series of our podcast that is part of a Creative Europe funded project, Tramontana Network, a cooperation between 11 mountain-based cultural organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Poland and Albania that work in the intersection of ethnographic research and contemporary artistic practices. Throughout dozens of episodes of this series we will creatively address subjects like agropastoralism, transhumance, water management and infrastructures in rural areas, social change and its impact on landscape and food, the Ukrainian migration to rural areas in Europe and many more. Water, often celebrated as a source of life, holds a duality that connects it intimately to themes of death. Across cultures and religions, water symbolizes the cyclical nature of existence, emphasizing both creation and destruction. The very essence of water embodies purity and renewal, yet its capacity to drown and destroy reminds us of its darker side. This duality raises profound questions about our relationship with water, reflecting our fears, beliefs, and understanding of mortality. In various religious contexts, water signifies profound spiritual beliefs regarding death and rebirth. In Christianity, baptism is a rite of initiation involving water, symbolizing the death of the old self and the emergence of new life in Christ. Conversely, in many Indigenous cultures, water is viewed as a sacred entity, a life force that must be respected. The symbolic understanding of water establishes a sacred link between the living and the afterlife, where water can also act as a conduit to ancestral spirits or to a realm beyond life. In literature and art, water often represents the thin veil between life and death. Poets and playwrights depict rivers as symbols of passage, where characters must confront their mortality. Imagery associated with water—storms, floods, or serene lakes—mirrors human emotions, conveying themes of despair, hope, and transcendence. This archetypal representation of water reflects our innermost fears about the end of life and our desire for redemption or revival. Ultimately, the connections between water and death underscore a richer, more complex relationship. Water’s inherent duality serves as a constant reminder of the fragile balance between life and death, urging us to contemplate our mortality. This relationship invites us to address not only the life-giving properties of water but also its potential for destruction, ultimately leading us to a deeper understanding of existence. In this podcast episode we blend together three recounts of the dark side of water. In the first, Francesca Migliorin recalls that in her town of Biella in Piedmont youths commit suicide usually by throwing themselves off a bridge, having that specific geographical area one of the highest suicide rates in Italy. In the second, mr. Adelino Serrano from Vouzela, a mountain area in Portugal, mentions how local villagers avoid drinking our using water in certain areas were copper and tungsten mining activities were developed in the past, something that is ignored by public authorities. Also, two ladies refer that artisanal irrigation channels in the same area of Vouzela, would have to be cleaned because of mice and moles that could carry diseases if being in contact will irrigation water. Special thanks to Studio Florìda in Genoa and to the third age university of Vouzela, a project by the municipality of Vouzela.

    Binaural Radio Rural #26 - Tramontana Series: Water and Death
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About

Binaural Nodar is a rural based sound and media arts organization located in the rural Viseu Dão Lafões region (Portugal), where since 2006 have been hosted over 180 sound and media arts projects developed in close connection with the local geographical and social contexts. Binaural Nodar is also a sound art collective that produces its own pieces, particularly those created by Luís Costa, Maile Colbert, Rui Costa, Ana Rodríguez and Manuela Barile.

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