Berliner Mauer

"My composition, titled “Berliner Mauer,” draws inspiration from ambisonics recordings made by Anders Vinjar at the Berlin Wall.

"The Berlin Wall, officially known as the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart, was a fortified concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It physically separated West Berlin from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 13, 1961, by the government of the GDR. The wall featured guard towers along large concrete walls and a wide area known as the “death strip,” which contained anti-vehicle trenches, beds of nails, and other defensive measures. The primary purpose of the Wall was to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West.

"The intricate history of the Berlin Wall captivated me. Its origin as a tangible symbol of the Cold War division holds immense power. It embodies various aspects, including the brutal suppression of East Germans and their families, its unintended symbolic significance for freedom, and the challenging socio-economic adjustments that followed its unexpected fall in 1989. These events led to German reunification and broader movements for Eastern European liberation.

"Anders Vinjar’s field recordings captured fragments of everyday life at the Berlin Wall, and these sounds carry an intangible weight. The post-fall complications in the area continue to impact everything and everyone around it in subtle ways. My intention was to convey this multifaceted and complex reality within my composition, leaving listeners with a potential sense of optimism for the future. By utilizing field recordings, synthesizers, and tape loops, I hope to unveil these hidden layers and inspire others to envision a better future."

Berlin Wall soundscape reimagined by Jeff Dungfelder.