Music for the Natural Environment

By Mic McCarty, Field Trip Coordinator

When I am out driving, I often like to disconnect from the hectic pace of life. I especially like to listen to music evocative of my destination. Whether I am on my way to Fort De Soto, Magee Marsh, Acadia, or even the grocery store, the music that I listen to (when not listening to bird calls) is often acoustical and filled with the sounds of nature. 

Orange Tree Productions records music suited to the natural environment. It specializes in music of national parks. The recordings are of acoustical instruments dubbed with the sounds of nature found at that park. For example, the album The Blue Ridge Mountains has audio dubbing of Yellow Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, rain, a mill and other sounds found in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The instruments used are also evocative of the music of rustic Appalachian Mountains: the guitar, banjo, fiddle, piano and harmonica. 

Other Orange Tree Production albums include The Sounds of the Seashore, American Rivers and The Sounds of the Everglades. Many of the albums include themes relating to the national parks and preserves. 

Other recordings not from Orange Tree Productions that are in the same vein include Santa Fe Sunrise by James Bobchack and Autumn in New England by David Huntsinger. 

Another album specific to a place is Canyon Trilogy by R. Carlos Nakai, a Navajo musician. This album “creates the sound of the cedar flute echoing in the canyons and valleys of the vast Southwest. Soothing the spirit and calming the mind, this landmark collection carries the listener to the limitless realms of the imagination,” according to the album’s description.

I find that these albums serve as the perfect backdrop for road trips, enhancing the connection between the journey and the environment. The calming melodies and natural soundscapes help to create a sense of peace and anticipation as I travel, making even routine errands feel a bit more special. 

Cheers!