Wendell Phillips Statue

Whisper in a Lily's Ear

Boston

A data sonification piece based on five poems written by female poets who lived/worked in Boston over the course of its history: Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), Ellen Sturgis Hooper (1812-1848), Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward (1844-1911), Gertrude Hall (1863-1961), and Jadene Felina Stevens (1947-2013). Each poem is tied to a prominent monument or landmark within the Public Garden, over a walking path covering approximately a half-mile from its southeastern to the northwestern points. In addition to recorded readings of the poems, two selections of modern-day sound recordings made in Boston accompany each poem, with varying pitches determined by word and letter frequency data within each poet's body of work, and within the overall English language. Surrounding the monuments/poems, ambient music from each relevant time period plays in the background. 18th Century:"Sodgers Return", by Sturbridge Colonial Militia; Early-19th Century:"Home, Sweet Home (Folk-Song)" by Martin R. Lucas (Producer); Mid-19th Century: "Alexander's Ragtime Band" by Miff Mole And His Little Molars; Late-19th Century: "In a Blue Summer Garden" by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, & Joe Shulman; 20th Century: "Crystalline Neurons" by PrimalHouseMusic. (All music in public domain/Creative Commons.)

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Wendell Phillips Statue

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Whisper in a Lily's Ear

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