http://www.ubu.com/sound/saroyan.html (first recording)

I chose this particular audio recording of a man repeating ‘crickets’ since it touches upon several significant details that pertain to the reading. Luigi Russolo, author of “The Art of Noise,” explains that “comparing these noise sounds to other sounds they will realize how
the latter are more varied than the former…the comprehension, the taste, and
the passion for noises will be developed” (12). This point especially relates to this audio recording; the predictable cadence of the word ‘crickets’ appears to be a far less intriguing aspect compared to  the subtle crackles in the background, the telephone-voice effect, and the scratching noise after the word ‘crickets’. These little details give the recording ‘life’. The extra noise that one would normally not give much attention to gives this simple recording some depth–some layers to investigate and probe upon.  Russolo also says there is “infinitely more pleasure imagining combinations of the sounds of trolleys, autos and other vehicles, and loud crowds, than listening once more, for instance, to the heroic or pastoral symphonies” due to the confined nature of conventional musical sounds (6). Such sounds, in essence, are preset with no level of variability. They are controlled, even if they can produce various degrees of harmony when fused together, and yet, this restricted sense of harmony is what societies all around the world are familiar and comfortable with. This specific recording of a man repeating crickets is likely more compelling than a Beethoven piece to him. As such, Russolo suggests that people should break free from this complacent notion to truly discover how the fleeting, mysterious yet natural noises in our everyday live as an art form.

I agree that the everyday noises that we may deem as overwhelming and non-traditionally artistic should be viewed through a different lens, and possibly even celebrated. The crackles and buzzing sounds in this particular audio recording expand on the idea that art through noise today can be more. We tend to overlook these noises as just sensory overload when they are actually so wonderfully organic and pure. Such auditory experiences can become anything if we were to listen to them with a more discerning mind, and that, in itself, is quite a remarkable quality that should not be ignored.