Jarman's Garden Audio Analysis 

http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/library/4-jarman-s-garden

Jarman’s Garden is a really melancholy and soulful audio piece. It begins with a monologue of Jarmen as he describes his garden and the labour and love he has put into it. In harmony with this the sounds of pebbles being walked over, garden tools being knocked and a radio or sonar machine rapidly beeping are played in a rhythmic pattern, creating a soundtrack that really gives a sense of the visual space in which Sherre Delys is trying to capture and depict. I feel that the repeating of sounds, such as gusts of wind, waves rolling on the coast and chimes clanging are really successful in creating a visual image for the listener. 

Listening to Jarman’s Garden, feels therapeutic and soothing. The garden and surrounding areas feel real; a place we would want to escape to. As the piece progresses, there are moments when there is an absence of dialogue and only the audio track plays. At this part towards the very end of the track, the tone becomes somewhat sombre, perhaps in commemoration of Jarman and the illness he was facing. The crashing waves begin to be slowly overshadowed by an echoing beat, and a low, almost buzzing sound effect that ends rather abruptly and marking an end to this beautiful land.