Chenoa Egawa: Enduring Rhythms: Seven Songs from the Skagit Valley

Full artist notes at https://henryart.org/exhibitions/sonolocations-a-sound-works-series 1. Waves on the Salish Sea (0:00-0:47) Water is Life. Journeying to the mountaintops through rain, snow, glaciers, and snowpack; into the rivers, streams, and creeks; seeping deep underground into aquifers and springs; out to the great oceans, and back up into the atmosphere again - clean, pure water generously nourishes all life. Without water there would be no life on our planet. All life is born from, or with, water, and thus Water is Life - a divine and living spirit that carries wisdom, memory, stories, and teachings. These wave sounds lapping upon the shore were recorded on the Salish Sea during an incoming tide. 2. Ducks Feeding on the Mud Flats at Low Tide (with Fighter Jet) (0:47-2:40) As the tide goes out the mud flats become a feeding ground for ducks, dunlin, and other waterfowl. The loud booming noise comes from a fighter pilot flying circles over the valley. Beneath the sound of the fighter jet you can hear the sweet, innocent, and crisp sounds of ducks feeding, and song - a prayer - for the continuation of all of the Earth's sacred creatures. 3. Songbirds in the Wetlands (2:40-4:10) There are many species of song birds in the wetlands of Skagit Valley. The main song here is the beautiful sound of the Song Sparrow. On occasion, you can hear a duck or two quacking in the background! Every creature plays an important and vital role in maintaining a healthy biodiversity in their respective habitats. Songbirds’ numbers across North America have been diminishing greatly over the last several decades due to habitat loss from industrial agriculture and the increased use of pesticides. 4. Frogs in the Wetlands (4:10-6:59) The individual mating calls and the chorus of Pacific Green Tree Frogs heard here signify the coming of Spring in the Skagit Valley and the promise of new growth and new life. The survival of frogs of all species worldwide are threatened. One of the main threats to frogs today is also loss of habitat. There are, of course, numerous other factors. 5. Snow Geese (aka, Lesser Snow Geese) Bathing in a Pond (6:59-9:46) I visit the snow geese several times each winter, but this was the first time I saw and heard the sound of hundreds of snow geese bathing. On this track you are hearing the sound of their powerful wings beating in the water as they bathe themselves, and their enthusiastic honking! 6. Bald Eagles and Wind (9:46-11:29) Part 1: I have visited this eagle couple many times over the years. Eagles mate for life. Each year I see them repair and fortify their nest for their next offspring. This eagle couple lives in the Skagit Valley year around. As many times as I’ve visited these two eagles, this was the first time I listened closely to their communication with one another as they worked on their nest together. You can also hear the strong winds blowing. Part 2: Four Bald Eagles preparing for the hunt near a huge flock of grazing snow geese in the late afternoon. 7. Snow Geese at Sunset (11:29-14:30) The sound of waves enter, as the Water of Life carries the listener to the final locale where thousands of snow geese are feeding in the fields, and on high alert, as the eagles are close. At the end of the track all of the snow geese take off in an uproarious wave when an eagle swoops in on attack. Their wings are beating powerfully in unison, causing a huge wind to whip through the atmosphere as they become airborne. Recorded in the Skagit Valley and at the studios of Jack Straw Cultural Center. Many thanks to The Henry Art Gallery and Jack Straw Cultural Center for inviting me to be a part of Sonolocations: A Sound Works Series. Thank you to Camelia Jade, my "Sound Engineer Wizard" and dear friend for recording, mixing and mastering.