An ensemble of curious metal horns appear to be growing out of the ground, and reveal the hidden sounds from the surrounding environment. The Horns have appeared in many locations, including revealing the underwater sounds of wetlands, bogs and rivers, and more recently created a chance to listen to a decomposing reed pile, where they horns amplified the subtle rustles, cracks, and hums of decomposition. Each horn resonates with its own unique tone, gently modulating the sounds to different resonating pitches, morphing between acting as a speaker, amplifier and an instrument.

The Horns at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve as part of ‘Listen to the Voices of the Fen‘ 2025.

Below are some photos of the Horns amplifying the underwater sounds of the River Tern at National Trust Attingham Park, with watery compositions created in collaboration with young people from ‘Reach for Inclusion’ Shrewsbury. Photos below and header photo taken by Chris Warrender.

The Listening Horns are a development of a commission created for Cryptic 2019 for ‘Below the Blanket’ in 2019 which followed a residency at the Flow Country, Scotland, the largest area of blanket bog in Europe.