Title. Landscaping outside Wig Hall
About the location. Situated on the edges of Campus, Wig Hall is a first-year residential dorm across the street from the Benton Art Museum. Named after Anna-May Wig, the dormitory has a rich history and has become a gem of Pomona College.
About the soundscape. This recording captures a landscaping project at one of the bussiest corners not only on campus but in Claremont Village. The sounds of birds chirping and the cars passing by are soundmarks which are present sporadically throughout the soundscape. Their quietness in comparison to the other sounds in the recording indicate how the humming of the ventilation systems dominates this soundscape. The sound of branches falling and the ringing of the machinery are signals that indicate that landscaping is taking place. The moments in which the ringing rises and lowers are those in which the lift machines are rising and lowering. The hum of the wig ventilation systems and the wind serve as a keynote which is ever present throughout this recording. However, when you move closer to the southern part of the dorm from the corner, the hums and landscaping work further dominate the soundscape. However, when one moves in the opposite direction, away from the site of the project, the other soundmarks such as the birds chirping, and even cars moving along the street are more noticeable.
Keywords.
Dorm, Street, Landscaping, footsteps
Date, time, and location of recording.
Southeastern corner of Bonita Ave & N College Way West of Wig Hall, 2:18 PM, March 3rd, 2026.
Recording equipment. TASCAM DR-40 Linear PCM Recorder, handheld
