Sounds in support of the American Heritage Prize

I was thrilled to contribute some of my field recordings to this year’s presentation of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize. The award is sponsored by the American Prairie Reserve and “recognizes distinguished and visionary artists, authors, educators, filmmakers, historians, and scientists whose body of work has advanced our collective understanding of the indomitable American spirit.” This year’s award went to jazz and classical trumpet legend Wynton Marsalis. Some of my soundscapes of birds, prairie dogs and bison could be heard in parts of the videotaped ceremony.

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Montana weather stories

Here’s a new podcast to add to your list. “The Wind From Eden: Montana Weather Stories” is sponsored by the Montana State University Library’s Ivan Doig Archive and includes a series of stories I produced about the influence of weather on Montana’s ranching culture. One of the stories includes this interview with White Sulphur Springs resident William Glasser. I was sad to hear that Glasser died of COVID-19 last October at the age of 90. Hearing his voice is another reminder of how much we have lost.

Montana resident William Glasser describes being snowed in during the winter of 1948. He had volunteered to help a rancher feed his cows and ended up stranded in a small, dirt-floor shack for more than a month. Glasser died of COVID-19 last October at the age of 90. The interview was recorded and mixed by Jeff Rice for a podcast called Montana Weather Stories.

New prairie collection

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Eastern Montana includes some of the world’s largest remaining stretches of intact native grasslands. Where they exist, such prairies are rich in wildlife, but less than 5% of temperate grasslands are considered protected, making them among the most endangered ecosystems in the world. In 2017, nature sound recordist Kevin Colver and I began documenting the sounds of Montana's shortgrass prairies through a collaboration with the American Prairie Reserve. You can find many of these recordings in a new collection on the Acoustic Atlas.

‘Weather stories’ podcast funded by Humanities Montana

Storm clouds along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. Photo by Jeff Rice.

Storm clouds along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. Photo by Jeff Rice.

I am happy to announce that a proposal I led has been funded by Humanities Montana. “The Wind from Eden: Montana Weather Stories” is sponsored by Montana State University and will look at the influence of weather on the historic ranching culture of central Montana. It started as a series of recording trips I took several years ago and has blossomed into a full-blown podcast. The five-part series is inspired by the writings of Ivan Doig, who coined the phrase “the wind from Eden” to describe the warm Chinook winds that occasionally blow into the region, turning winter into shirtsleeve weather. We will focus on a time in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s before satellite weather forecasting, when ranching life meant a constant reckoning with natural forces. Production starts this month and the series is scheduled to air in February 2021.

Virtual audio installation using BBC's Audio Orchestrator software

I recently had the privilege of testing a pre-release version of the BBC’s incredible Audio Orchestrator software. This software combines internet-connected devices such as phones, tablets, laptops or even refrigerators to create surround sound and other immersive audio experiences. I used it to showcase the sounds from inside a bison herd. You can listen here from the safety of your own home. Click "Start new session." Then add additional devices by clicking in the green banner. Adding more devices will allow you to hear a wider variety of sounds.

A curious bison poses for the camera. Photo by Jeff Rice.

A curious bison poses for the camera. Photo by Jeff Rice.

Nature All Around Us

Nature All Around Us is a special exhibition created by the Natural History Museum of Utah that introduces visitors to the nature thriving right under our no...

I missed this video when it came out, but seeing it now is a nice reminder of a special project I was involved with last year. I recorded and designed most of the sounds for the exhibit ‘Nature All Around Us,’ which, alas, would still be running if not for the current pandemic. Maybe they’ll bring it back for another showing when the world opens up again!

Recording during the pandemic part 2


It may be too late in the season to get a really dramatic dawn chorus (in Seattle, at least), but sometimes less is more. This was captured along the side of the road last week. Loop it as background sound for your next Zoom meeting.

This was recorded during the pandemic lockdown along the side of the road near Stossel Creek in Washington. Normally such a recording would be filled with airplanes and traffic noise. Not on this day. No filtering was necessary. Copyright Jeff Rice, 2020. All rights reserved.

Recording during the pandemic

Most of the places I like to go near Seattle are closed, but there are still opportunities to record along the side of the road. As you might guess, traffic is down considerably and there are almost no airplanes, so the conditions are pretty good. These woodpeckers rang out on Easter morning near Harris Creek in King County.

Woodpeckers drum near the road along Harris Creek in King County, Washington. Recorded at sunrise on Easter Sunday 2020 by Jeff Rice.