In listening, taking notes, and reflecting on episode 2, “Caribbean Dance, London Symphonies & the Triangular Trade” of the Sounding History podcast I was overtaken by the immense detail, varied yet balanced and informative perspectives demonstrated, and the sense of reliability in the information and citing used in the conversation.

This episode focused on the role the period referred to as ‘Anthropocene’ played in directing the diffusion and influx of musical culture in Europe as a result of the Triangle trade and the influx of wealth in London, all as a result of slavery and importing crop from the Americas. The most prominent aspect of this episode to me was the affect of the European expansion into the America. Eradicating 50 million indigenous people, societies, and farmland, introduced new forest and natural carbon emissions dropped and led a new ice age.

The beginning of the episode introduced the economic role of composers Mozart, Hayden, and Handl along with the weight the growing economy held in terms of the negativity of the slave trade as well as the influx of music in European culture. I was affected by the way the speakers presented the weight of the topic at hand, in an aware and educational manner. From a sound perspective the podcast gave perspective into the power of the diffusion of culture.

In episode 3, “New Soundworlds on Canals & Computers”, Sounding History focused on the creation of new sound worlds as a result of the creation of canals; both as a result of work taking over the soundscapes of cities and the spread of folk music by way of the expeditited canal. The ladder of the episode introduced us to the creation of electronic music through Allen Turing, and the concept of the Enigma Code.