Music of Nature Podcast

Lang Elliott
  • 5.0 (45)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Hi Friends! I am a professional nature recordist who travels to wild areas throughout North America and sometimes beyond. My current focus is to gather immersive binaural 3D soundscapes that effortlessly transport listeners (using headphones) into nature and have a positive and healing effect on the mind, body and spirit.

  1. Calming Crickets and Forest Drip

    4d ago

    Calming Crickets and Forest Drip

    Calming Crickets and Forest Drip - 25 September 2017, 1am, Shindagin Hollow near Brooktondale, New York. Recorded by Lang Elliott. As autumn begins revealing its colors, there is still a pleasing insect chorus at night in the forested hills of upstate New York. In late September, after an evening thunderstorm passes through the area, I visit nearby Shindagin Hollow in search of soothing meditative nightscapes. Well after midnight, the sky clears. A half-moon illuminates the forest, gently filtered through light fog. I stand silently next to a small ravine. Leaves are wet and dripping steadily. Tree crickets trill from all directions and spring peepers call sporadically, even though their breeding season is long passed. At times, a barred owl hoots from far in the distance, barely audible. I feel fully embraced by this lovely, nurturing soundscape. There is nothing to analyze, nothing to think about, nothing to hold on to. There is only a sense of deep immersion, complete surrender, and effortless communion with this extraordinary place and time.

    19 min
  2. Olympic Thrush Tones

    Jun 14

    Olympic Thrush Tones

    In late June, I visit Olympic National Park and camp near Ozette Lake in the Olympic Peninsula. At the break of dawn, I amble along a trail leading to the Pacific Ocean and encounter an exciting constellation of sounds. Against a backdrop of subtle gurgles from a small stream and the gentle whoosh of a light breeze, two varied thrushes sing loudly from tall hemlocks while others sound off in the distance. Their vibrant, buzzy notes electrify the air. From the understory, a Swainson’s thrush sings prominently, its melodic flute-like notes sliding upward in pitch. A pileated woodpecker drums occasionally far in the distance. A band-tailed pigeon also chimes in, its hollow low-pitched coo-coo, coo-coo adding a pleasing musical element to the low end. And then, to top things off, a Pacific winter wren suddenly bursts forth with its high-pitched, liquid ramble exhilarating the mix.\ I rest against the trunk of a towering tree and take in this exquisite blend of sounds—a veritable audio fingerprint of the ancient old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. Olympic Thrush-Tones - 23 June 2017, at dawn, near Ozette Lake, Olympic National Park, Washington. © by Lang Elliott, musicofnature.com

    11 min
  3. Muskrats Nattering

    May 30

    Muskrats Nattering

    Muskrats Nattering. 31 August 2020, around 3am, Teeter Pond, Finger Lakes National Forest near Valois, New York. © Lang Elliott. In early autumn, I camp along the shore of Teeter Pond in the Finger Lakes National Forest in upstate New York. That night, crickets trill melodiously and katydids rasp their harsh chee-chee from the surrounding forest. In the wee hours of the morning, I awaken to whimpering notes and squeals, accompanied at times by water splashes. These are the sweet, endearing calls of muskrats. Listening carefully, I conclude that it’s a pair, sounding off as they swim along the marshy shoreline. The entire soundscape is pleasing, a soothing mix of insect songs, occasional frog calls, distant cattle mooing and bellowing, and, of course, the uplifting calls of the fun-loving mammals (I could be wrong here, but they sure do sound like they’re having fun). What could be finer than enjoying the nattering of muskrats as they slowly swim by, finally vanishing into the night? I take a long, deep breath and then gently drift back into sleep.

    7 min
  4. Spine-Tingling Duck Wing Whooshes and Whistles

    May 23

    Spine-Tingling Duck Wing Whooshes and Whistles

    25 March 1994, 8am, Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska. Recording © Lang Elliott. In late March, I travel to Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Nebraska, about twenty miles due north of the Platte River. It is early spring and the waterfowl migration is at its peak. Looking for recording opportunities, I home in on a long, narrow pond only ten or fifteen feet wide and perhaps a hundred feet long, with steep banks on each side. It is a waterfowl mecca, with ducks of several species excitedly swimming about while feeding. Still others streak by overhead, their wings producing loud, spine-tingling whooshes or musical whistles, or else they land with a splash. I dare not approach the pond because the ducks will scatter and might not return. So I wait until an hour before dawn the next morning, and under the cover of darkness, I place a soundscape mic in the middle of the pool. Fortunately, no ducks are present, but at first light they begin arriving and soon the pool is churning with activity. I can only imagine what my recording will sound like… Species to listen for: 1) Loud peeps given mostly in flight: Green-winged Teal. 2) Whistling wings while flying: Common Goldeneye. 3) Taking flight while calling chux-chux-chux: Northern Shoveler. 4) Otherworldly nasal calls (prominent at the end of the recording): Lesser Scaup. 5) Musical bird songs in the background: Western Meadowlark. 6) A loud raucous outburst followed wing flapping: Ring-necked Pheasant. A Note from Lang: This stunning recording was made by my dear friend and recording partner Ted Mack (now deceased) during our 6-month recording expedition way back in 1994. The above account summarizes how he described the experience to me.

    11 min
  5. Veery at Dusk

    Apr 23

    Veery at Dusk

    June 6, 2021, 8:30pm, Cayuta Lake Outlet, Gulf Road, near Alpine, New York © Lang Elliott, musicofnature.com A lovely binaural soundscape-portrait of a Veery thrush singing and calling at dusk with the relaxing gurgle of a small waterfall to one side, the soft rush of a brook to the other, and various subtle bird songs in the background.

    12 min
  6. Prairie Riparian Mystery Sound

    Apr 5

    Prairie Riparian Mystery Sound

    May 24, 2024, Buffalo Camp, American Prairie Preserve east of Zortman, Montana. © Lang Elliott. The most exciting section is near the end, from 3:35-4:00. CAN ANYONE HELP ME IDENTIFY THE MYSTERY SOUND-MAKER? My semi-educated guesses: How about Porcupine? I recorded this rather amazing mystery sound made by an unknown animal (presumably a mammal) in the American Prairie Preserve in Montana. At dusk, I set my microphone near the edge of Second Creek (47.7599103,-107.777872), just south of the Buffalo Camp campground. This unusual sound event occurred not long after midnight. Also evident are the loud song-phrases of a Yellow-breasted Chat, a common nighttime singer. Listen also for the hooting (and moans?) of Long-eared Owls in the background. NEWS FLASH: After some online sleuthing, I am now certain this is indeed a Porcupine. I found a great reference video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpDtSjyTC6I

    6 min
  7. Light Rain and Forest Drip

    Mar 31

    Light Rain and Forest Drip

    Light Rain and Forest Drip, 31 May 2021, around 3am, Cranberry Glades Botanical Area near Raintown, West Virginia. © Lang Elliott Recorded in the wee hours of morning along a swampy section of the boardwalk at Cranberry Glades Botanical Area high in the mountains of West Virginia. Raindrops and drips from trees splat against the broad leaves of skunk cabbage. Listen also for periodic spring peepers, distant barred owls, and the barely audible throaty gunks of green frogs in the background. To my ear, this is a wonderful relaxation track. Please set volume on the low side so that the splats of raindrops and drips are not too loud.

    16 min
  8. Kentucky Swamp

    Mar 29

    Kentucky Swamp

    Kentucky Swamp After Dark - April 15, 1995 at 11pm. Land Between the Lakes, near Golden Pond, Kentucky. Recorded by Lang Elliott. Land Between the Lakes is one of our favorite locations for enjoying the sounds of nature. One year, we visit in mid-April and arrive just as the sun sets. The scene is exquisite, with a white-tailed deer silhouetted against the red sky. As darkness descends, we make our way to a swampy area next to a lake and are shocked by the number of whip-poor-wills, their repeated songs mixing with the bright notes of spring peepers and the chirps of field crickets. Great blue herons croak excitedly from the far side of the swamp, their raspy talkings lasting for quite a long time. We also hear the tail slaps of a beaver, chewing sounds, and the chuckling of distant leopard frogs. And that’s not all … a deer suddenly snorts and pounds its hooves against the ground, eventually bounding away. Minutes later, another does the same. What an amazing night chorus … so alive and full of sounds. We pray that generations to come will also behold such splendor, nature speaking in countless tongues!

    13 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Hi Friends! I am a professional nature recordist who travels to wild areas throughout North America and sometimes beyond. My current focus is to gather immersive binaural 3D soundscapes that effortlessly transport listeners (using headphones) into nature and have a positive and healing effect on the mind, body and spirit.

Information

  • Creator
    Lang Elliott
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Music of Nature Podcast

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