Very good balance of background information on the history of ice harvesting and the acualities--got to love that Down East accent and the Maineman's matter-of-fact way of speaking. Ambient sound made it all real. But I think a little--intro and outro--would have framed it nicely--a bassy blues piece cold to the ear.
Cool, cool piece. Air it during the long hot summer. Historical background is given and the listener will hear the chug-chug of the ancient ice cutter and the slick whoosh-whoosh of the long two handed saw. It's a "shhh, I'm listening," tilt your head toward the radio piece.
Just the description of this made me want to listen. The concept of harvesting ice is a little odd but makes a lot of sense. Like with wheat or grain, ice sold to markets was a viable industry up until the 1900. The piece is very interesting as a description of this industry lost to technology but traditions preserved. It would run well in the north east or the midwest as it speaks to tradition, harvests, and different ways to use the earth. Very interesting piece.
Comments for Cobb's Ice Harvest
Produced by Whit Richardson
Other pieces by Whit Richardson
Rating Summary
4 comments
Charles McGuigan
Posted on August 28, 2008 at 05:14 AM | Permalink
Review of Cobb's Ice Harvest
Very good balance of background information on the history of ice harvesting and the acualities--got to love that Down East accent and the Maineman's matter-of-fact way of speaking. Ambient sound made it all real. But I think a little--intro and outro--would have framed it nicely--a bassy blues piece cold to the ear.
Deborah Astley
Posted on June 10, 2005 at 01:13 PM | Permalink
Review of Cobb's Ice Harvest
Cool, cool piece. Air it during the long hot summer. Historical background is given and the listener will hear the chug-chug of the ancient ice cutter and the slick whoosh-whoosh of the long two handed saw. It's a "shhh, I'm listening," tilt your head toward the radio piece.
don shaw
Posted on May 31, 2005 at 08:59 AM | Permalink
Review of Cobb's Ice Harvest
Really great audio quality, sound rich hearing the paddles through the water. Good descriptions of the area.
Sort of an expanded one minute vacation.
Greg Demetrick
Posted on February 15, 2005 at 06:01 AM | Permalink
Review of Cobb's Ice Harvest
Just the description of this made me want to listen. The concept of harvesting ice is a little odd but makes a lot of sense. Like with wheat or grain, ice sold to markets was a viable industry up until the 1900. The piece is very interesting as a description of this industry lost to technology but traditions preserved. It would run well in the north east or the midwest as it speaks to tradition, harvests, and different ways to use the earth. Very interesting piece.