The Sound Of The Sea

How often can we get Wowed??

The Zadar Sea Organ was a Super Wow! Honestly the best wow of the trip. It was not necessarily the most fun. But it was a complete surprise.

As an unadvertised goody provided by the boat and bike cruise, we were treated to a guided city tour of Zadar.'s 3000 year old Old Town. The climax of the tour was the Promenade.

People show up for the sunset. A steady stream easily and peacefully walks towards the promenade. The gentle waves and the organ sound. The sun descends slowly as day gracefully gives way to evening.

Hundreds and thousands have gathered. More stroll in. People from all over gather, sitting on the steps, facing west and listening.

The sun kisses the distant mountain range beyond the Adriatic. It slips past the backside. The last bit of the sun disappears as the crowd applauds.

A scene I am sure it will repeat itself tomorrow.

The sun was the Star of the show, but the unsung hero, the way I am telling it, is the organ.

The organ is an architectural sound art object which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.

There are 35 tubes of varying diameters and lengths below the promenade. The tubes have "whistles" installed. As sea washes below the steps of the promenade, the water forces air through the tubes, musical notes are played. There are vents under the steps and port holes in the marble walkway that allow the notes to escape.

The people come to watch the sunset and listen to the calming sounds of the organ.

But the setting sun is not the end of the show. In another installation at the end of the promenade is a group of 300 solar cells, absorbing energy all day. At night, the panel creates a light show. The lights paced to the flow of the ocean.Read more