Sihl - from the source to its confluent
FL : field recordings and research
This is a few years-long research project, still in progress, which explores the acoustic ecology of the Sihl River (CH), from its source at the Drüsberg (Kanton Schwyz) to its confluence with the Limmat in Zurich (Kanton Zurich). A total of 73 km.
Drawing inspiration from R. Murray Schafer’s soundscape theory and the works from Annea Lockwood, the project focuses on how natural, urban, artificial, and renatured environments shape the river’s sound across seasons and weather conditions.
Field recordings, acoustic analysis, and interviews with experts in environmental sciences and historians, form the core of the methodology. Areas of interest include the Sihlsee reservoir near Einsiedeln, Zurich’s main station, the Sihlwald forest, transitional zones such as highways and renatured banks and the sources somewhere up in the moutains close to the Studen village in the Schwyz county. Special attention is given to how human interventions affect the sonic qualities of the river and its environment.
The project bridges scientific observation and sound art, translating ecological processes into auditory experience. It emphasizes experimentation, from on-site listening improvisations to mixing based on recorded material, without aiming for a predefined artistic product.
Deeply rooted in the Zurich context, the project reflects on the relationship between sound, environment and people. It marks a shift in Loriot's artistic practice, grounding sonic exploration in ecological awareness, and contributing to a broader dialogue between sonic practices, science and nature.
This first step of this research has been made possible with the kind support of the city of Zürich.
Samples below were recorded between the beginning of June 2025 and now. I couldn't put all the gathered material. I believe the ones below were the most relevant.
Itinerary
Material : zoom H6 + Hydrophone
A few samples from around Allmend (Zürich)
↑ Around here, you'll hear a dog jumping in the Sihl and walking next and on the hydrophone
Under/in between the Highways
Here you hear both the zoom H6 + hydrophone
Only the hydrophone
Only the zoom H6
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only zoom H6
only hydrophone
Renaturalized zone in Allmend (Zürich)
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only zoom H6
only hydrophone
Alternate take zoom H6 only
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only hydrophone
only zoom H6
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only hydrophone
only zoom H6
Dams and artificial waterfalls
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only hydrophone
only zoom H6
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only hydrophone
only zoom H6
Train station Selnau, Zürich - here I've managed to record in a single take what was going in the water and in the train tunnel
zoom H6 + hydrophone
only hydrophone
only zoom H6
Winter 2025/26
Recording from ice
In winter, the acoustic changes. The acoustic is larger since leaves are gone. The ice bounces the sound but the snow absorbs it. The river has slower and lower potential but the environment has more presence.
Spring 2026 - from Studen (SZ) to the sources
Lots of spots along the Sihl are not accesible
One could think there is only one source. The takes were made during the snowmelt period, creating all the different sources flowing towards the Sihl
It was all calm and beautiful. As soon as I picked the microphones to record, the take was polluted by human's noises...
on this take, we can hear the white wagtail, a common river bird
Summer 2026 - Studen to the sources
Sihlsee (SZ)
That day, down in the valley next to Studen, the swiss army was trying and shooting with a canon. We could hear the shots in the whole valley, and hear how the sound was bouncing.
Sihlseeli (SZ)
