Glacier Lamentations – field recordings 2025

We only protect what we love, and only love what we know. This is why we need to both love and know the glaciers. Our project aims at sharing both the knowledge and the emotions around the demise of glaciers. Human activities have increased greenhouse gases, accelerating glacier melt, which reduces the Earth’s albedo, raises sea levels, and intensifies other climate issues. In this era of rapid environmental change, re-establishing our connection to nature is essential. Glacier Lamentations addresses this urgency by using sound to engage people artistically and emotionally with the climate crisis. By transforming scientific data and field recordings into immersive soundscapes, GL enables listeners to experience the unique sonic atmospheres of glacier landscapes, amplifying the unseen processes within glaciers and revealing their “lament”—a powerful call to action inspired by art and sound. Led by a team from the Norwegian Academy of Music—Professor Torben Snekkestad, Professor Morten Qvenild, and University Lecturer Anja Lauvdal—this project aims to bridge art and science, not only recording glacier sounds but interpreting them to communicate vital scientific messages. Ugo Nanni is highly qualified to join us and work with us on the field thanks to his strong foundation in both science and art, as well as a personal connection to the project’s location. With nearly a decade of fieldwork in glaciology—designing glacier instruments and collaborating internationally—he brings essential technical skills. Ugo Nanni also co-directed the audio documentary Noise Variations, a project that shares glacier sounds to forge emotional bonds between science and society. His dual passion for science and art will allow us to collaborate not only on the technical aspect but also on the creative ones, when it comes to sound recording. His familiarity with Longyearbyen and Svalbard, along with connections at UNIS and NPI, will ensure a respectful and impactful approach.