FRIDAY MARKET

Published on 27 December 2019

market stall dismantling and clearance

The idea was to document the sounds of Ventimiglia’s famous Friday Market, in my hometown. My attention focused mainly on the dismantling and removal of the stalls. I found it more interesting to capture the acoustic atmosphere created by the traders as they packed away their stands, rather than the chaotic crowd noise during peak hours, which I had initially imagined would best represent the market. This experience taught me that leaving home with an overly rigid idea of what I intend to record can be a mistake. The original plan may take an unexpected direction and lead to better results by the end of the day. Of course, this does not apply when working on a specific assignment commissioned by someone else. I carried only a small amount of equipment so that I could move freely through the crowd: a Tascam DR-44WL recorder, a windscreen—which was essential—AKG K171 MkII headphones and a tripod for static recordings and, to be completely honest, also for taking an occasional break. I also brought my camera to collect material for updating my website. Capturing the sounds was not particularly complicated, and I did not use any special techniques other than being ready to seize the moment, moving closer to the sound source while still preserving the more distant ambience and finding the right balance between the two. Metal structures falling, van doors slamming, clothing racks being pulled in different directions, engines starting and, finally, street cleaners washing the roads and pavements. I was surrounded by a rich and engaging sound environment. In approximately two hours, I recorded 18 stereo tracks. After importing the files into Cubase, I listened carefully to each recording, selected the most interesting sections and catalogued them. This process made it easier to create a single track summarising the entire experience. Enjoy listening.