Nature Sings
The idea behind this project ‘Nature Sings’ is to bring people closer to nature, not only in the countryside but also in the towns where there are trees, plants and green areas that need nurturing and protecting. All too often we take nature for granted, not really appreciating the support she gives us.
Our project will give people the opportunity to feel more connected to their natural environme
nt, to dedicate time in quiet communication with nature while listening to the beautiful notes of the plants themselves.
The music made by the plants, we believe, resonates with the human body in a positive way contributing to health and wellbeing. Listening to these sounds relaxes the mind, soothes the body and inspires the spirit.
The Inspiration for the Project
Last year I reached a point in my life when I needed a new project, I wanted to do something that would help people reconnect to the magic around them and by doing so help them to live better quality lives, to be happier, more able to deal with stress and to see joy in the simple things. I trusted the universe to give me the inspiration and to guide me in the right direction.
In April of this year I decided to walk more, I needed to get outside so I started walking an hour a day come rain or shine. My route was perfect, I live on the outskirts of the town so my hour stroll is accompanied by trees and a lovely view of Italian hills. At the end of my walk as well there is a friendly bar to get a cappuccino. It is on this walk that I gained the inspiration for my project.
As I walked I would listen to the birds, the wind in the trees and of course, sometimes, the rain on my umbrella. However, it wasn’t just the sounds that enchanted me, it was spring and the perfume from the blossoms was incredible. I soaked it all in. Sometimes I would stop and look over the hills; the trees, the flowers, the grass existed in silence so it seemed. It was like a silent wisdom, yet I could feel them reaching out to me, but not to my mind, they were reaching out to my heart.
I really can’t say how or when I came across a little device that was going to help me connect even more to the plants, this device measures small electrical currents across the surface of a plant’s leaf converting the fluctuations into MIDI notes so you can hear the music via a synthesizer. The first time I heard my orchid I was amazed, the Oak tree in the garden was even more than amazing and I knew that in some way I had found my project.
I would love you to join me on my journey with ‘Nature Sings’ I hope to inspire people to connect in a deeper way with nature, both in my town here in Italy and in the world. I believe that we can work together with plants, that they have messages for us and I have started making a series of meditation tracks using plant music to help people receive these messages.
I welcome your company on this journey which we can make together, forever inspired by the plants.
How does it work?
The device we use measures small electrical currents across the surface of a plant’s leaf, similar to galvanic skin response in human beings. Galvanic skin response is a change in the electrical resistance of the skin, studies have highlighted the link between GSR signals and several mental states, such as stress, tiredness etc.
The device converts the fluctuations into MIDI notes and controls that can be read by synthesizers.
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol designed for recording and playing back music on digital synthesizers.
So what does this music tell us about plants? There are no clear answers, but we can say that the music is an expression of their physiological changes, this shows that they are perceptive of their surroundings, possibly even more.
The project will include running workshops in the Italian countryside so participants can experience that quiet wonder when hearing the plants sing. I will also be recording guided meditation tracks using the music of the plants.
You can check out these tracks at the link below:
The plants uplift and inspire.
“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.” Herman Hesse