Stained Glass Media

Since Native Americans populated the Hassayampa Valley, the region has been known as horse country.  That reputation grew after the Mexicans and Anglos arrived.  Guest ranches began in the Wickenburg area almost a century ago.  Later when the Town was internationally known as the “Dude Ranch Capitol of the World”,  its equestrian reputation was recognized around the globe.  The music in this selection captures the Hispanic influence and freedom of the desert.  The sound of the horses was recorded  in the Fall of 2009 near one of the Wickenburg guest ranches.  As the sun was setting, they were running from the ranch corral to the wide open Sonoran Desert.

Thunderstorms in the Sonoran desert can be especially turbulent, but because they always are accompanied by the wispy, pungent aroma of the pervasive creosote bushes, they adopt an unexpected sort of gentleness.  The recording of this thunderstorm was made at sunrise during the monsoon summer of 2008.  The equipment was set up under the historic Hassayampa Well at the edge of the river and within the town of Wickenburg.  The rainwater can be heard pouring off of the ramada roof.  The music combines the tempestuousness of the storm with the gentleness of new growth created by the rainwaters.

For most of its length, the Hassayampa River flows just a few feet beneath the sand surface.  That is why the Yavapai Indians called it the upside down river.  But in the Box Canyon area, a short distance north of Wickenburg, the Hassayampa works its way upward and becomes a rapidly flowing body of water.  This recording was made in February 2009 about 200 yards upriver from the Box Canyon.   The sound of the flowing water captures the serenity of this magnificent region.  The music was written to compliment the river’s primitive elegance.

Salt cedars are common along the Hassayampa River .  Heavy winds blowing through salt cedars create the sound of a soothing violence.  This recording was made in April of 2009 just outside the Town of Wickenburg.  These Salt Cedars are located a few yards from the river bed.  The music is of a rapid tempo to match the furious winds.

This gentle melody was written to create the mood of a sunrise in the Sonoran Desert and the Hassayampa Valley.  All the birds were recorded at sunrise in January 2009 at the western base of the majestic Vulture Peak Mountain, a Wickenburg landmark.  At first, only a few birds could be heard, but when the sun rose from behind the mountain, it was as if the birds had been waiting for this signal.  There was an loud chorus of bird sounds. Among the many birds you can hear are the Mourning Dove; the Cactus Wren, the Arizona State Bird; the Quail and the Oriole.

This original Mexican flavored music provides the setting for the sounds that come alive each night in the Sonoran Desert.  It took almost a year to record all of the natural night sounds.  The cricket, which acts as the base sound throughout this selection, was recorded at the Hassayampa River Preserve south of Wickenburg.  The Owl was recorded late one Spring evening in 2009.  It was perched in a tree near Wickenburg Town Hall.  Those wonderful coyotes were recorded in the desert late one evening west of Wickenburg.  It was the night of the August new moon.  The train was recorded around midnight late in 2008 as it travelled through Wickenburg.