The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment And The T... Apr 2026
More recent critiques suggest the original project lacked diversity, disproportionately representing European-Canadian voices and sounds.
Schafer has been criticized for favoring natural sounds over man-made ones, sometimes appearing nostalgic for a pre-industrial era.
“This is a fascinating book about the music of the world around us. As a composer it has literally tuned me in to how musical materials surround us...” Goodreads
Schafer argues that modern society has become aurally "sludged" due to an overabundance of noise, leading to a diminished ability to hear nuances. He introduces several key terms to analyze our sonic environment:
More recent critiques suggest the original project lacked diversity, disproportionately representing European-Canadian voices and sounds.
Schafer has been criticized for favoring natural sounds over man-made ones, sometimes appearing nostalgic for a pre-industrial era.
“This is a fascinating book about the music of the world around us. As a composer it has literally tuned me in to how musical materials surround us...” Goodreads
Schafer argues that modern society has become aurally "sludged" due to an overabundance of noise, leading to a diminished ability to hear nuances. He introduces several key terms to analyze our sonic environment: