About the listening session

The work is an unprocessed sound recording captured on the last day of the school year at Mariensztat in Warsaw. The recording was made in a hidden garden behind a kindergarten – an enclave of greenery with old trees, known almost exclusively to local residents. This was the shortcut route taken by the author and her daughter. On this day, however, Wanda completes her kindergarten education for good.

The recorded acoustic landscape intertwines the promise of the first days of summer with the melancholy of the final moments in kindergarten. The space is completely free from the noise of the capital and the nearby W-Z Route. The architecture and dense greenery of Mariensztat act as a natural filter and acoustic buffer. Sounds from the kindergarten playground – children’s laughter, carefree chatter, and the calls of caregivers – reach the microphone from a distance, blending with birdsong.

This acoustic distance becomes a direct metaphor for the inevitable farewell to early childhood. Sounds filtered through space and lush vegetation seem as if they already belong to the past, gradually receding into memory.

The sound postcard, though deeply personal and imbued with subtle nostalgia, avoids sentimentality. The work is based on attentive listening to what unfolds naturally – without digital manipulation or effects. It is a tender documentary record of a fleeting moment of transition and a threshold beyond which the sounds of a safe micro-world become only a memory.

About the author

Iza Smelczyńska – musicologist, composer, and writer. She works within experimental electronic music and field recording. She is interested in acoustic ecology and different modes of listening, which resonates in her works defined as “sound essays.” She composes music for radio plays and theatre performances. Her works have been presented at festivals including MUTEK (Montreal), CTM (Berlin), “Warszawska Jesień,” and Sanatorium of Sound. She writes about music for “Glissando” and “Ruch Muzyczny,” and co-hosts “FLIS: a podcast about music and listening” on culture.pl.

Details

When: 5 July, Sunday, 11:00–12:00
Where: Workshops of Culture in Lublin, Grodzka 5a – auditorium
Admission free

How to prepare for the listening session

Arrive at least a few minutes before 11:00 and choose your listening space; cushions, deck chairs and blankets will be available.

Turn off your phone and do not use it during the session – the room will be darkened and the screen light may disturb others.

If possible, avoid leaving during the listening session – it may distract other participants.

A mind accustomed to listening to music may initially struggle to follow subtle individual sounds – give yourself time: close your eyes, relax, and follow the diversity and changes in the soundscape.

Each listening session consists of several dozen minutes of sound without visual stimuli – consciously give them up and begin to listen more deeply, more widely, more attentively.

Attention! The listening room closes shortly after 11:00, so please be punctual!

Accessibility

Sound resets are accessible for blind and visually impaired people. If you would like to attend and need assistance, please let us know by email no later than 3 days before the festival – send a message to: wolontariat@warsztatykultury.pl.