Inspired by Annea Lockwood’s 2008 audio work A Sound Map of the Danube, Tchefuncte Soundmap by Brad M. Seippel (thruoutin) presents an immersive sonic documentation of the Tchefuncte River and its tributaries through a series of field recordings.
Flowing through Louisiana’s Tangipahoa, Washington, and St. Tammany parishes, the river is an ecological haven, home to a wide range of wildlife, including alligators, egrets, sac-a-lait, and beavers. Stretching approximately 70 miles, it also carries a rich human history—from the Tchefuncte culture dating back to around 800 BC, through periods of French, Spanish, and British colonization, and ultimately becoming part of the United States in 1820.
These recordings serve as both a snapshot of the river as it exists today and a trace of the time that has shaped it. The work guides the listener downstream from the river’s source, like a slowly moving boat, tracing a sonic journey from north to south along the Tchefuncte River to its delta, where it empties into Lake Pontchartrain.
The original edition consists of 27 tracks, of which 11 have been selected for this abridged cassette version. The majority of recordings were made in November 2024, with additional material recorded in 2013 and 2016. Various handheld recording devices were used depending on location, in combination with omnidirectional microphones, contact microphones, and hydrophones.
受安妮亚·洛克伍德（Annea Lockwood）2008年音频作品《多瑙河声音地图》启发，布拉德·赛普（艺名 thruoutin）的《切丰特声音地图》通过一系列实地录音，沉浸式地记录了切丰特河及其支流的声音。切丰特河流经路易斯安那州的唐吉帕霍亚、华盛顿和圣塔曼尼县，这里栖息着鳄鱼、白鹭、湖鲈、海狸等各种野生动物，是一个生态天堂。河流长约70英里，承载着丰富的人类历史，从公元前800年的切丰特文化，到法国、西班牙和英国的殖民，最终在1820年归属美国。
录音是河流今天的快照，也有着岁月的塑痕。它带领听众从河流的源头顺流而下，如同一艘缓缓前进的小船，自北向南沿着路易斯安那州的切丰克特河展开一段声音旅程，最终注入庞查特雷恩湖的三角洲。原始录音共27首。磁带版本从中节选了11首。主要的录音工作是在2024年11月完成，部分录音来自2013年和2016年。根据不同地点使用了多种手持录音设备，并结合全指向麦克风、接触麦克风和水听器进行录制。
All material recorded and edited by thruoutin.
Mixed and mastered by Brad M. Seippel at Brevity of Motion Sounds (Beijing, China, 2025).
Logistics: Mike Seippel, Dennis Bloom, Michele Seippel.
Special thanks to Scott Poss, Dennis Bloom, and The Sound Art Museum.
A&R: Tom Arnstein
Artwork: Brad M. Seippel
