The sound of wind chimes takes me to a serene place even if my feet are planted smack dab in the middle of the city. I can be surrounded by traffic, and the hustle and bustle of pedestrians, but the moment the haunting sound of wind chimes floats through the air, it’s like I’m transported. Still and calm. There’s an incredible feeling that comes with the gentle clanging of pipes carried by the natural power of the wind.
They’re soulful. They stir emotion, sending chills down your spine, like hearing a familiar voice from the past that you haven’t heard in a while. That’s the idea behind this 9/11 memorial, aptly named “Tower of Voices” in Memorial Park, in Pennsylvania, USA.
Every generation remembers an event that changed the state of the world and made headlines. For a generation ahead of mine, it was the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, or when the first man landed on the moon in 1969. For me, and I remember it clearly, it was when the September 11th attacks happened in 2001. It was a dark day in American history.
It was United Airlines Flight 93 that will be remembered for years and years to come in our hearts and history books, but there’s a stunning memorial site dedicated to the 40 souls aboard. Built in time to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the fateful day, “Tower of Voices,” designed by Paul Murdoch, is a stunning installation built in memoriam.
The final installation due to be completed by the end of fall will soar 93 feet into the sky and comprise 40 chimes that delicately hang and sway with the wind, each chime is a different sound and voice strung together to ring out their song. For the 17th anniversary ceremony as seen in the video, this is part of what’s to come, and it’s a beautiful tribute to the 40 passengers. Set in a lush green field, the sound reverberates and carries, without being brash and overbearing. “The tower itself is quite heroic; it’s a monumental piece,” Paul told CBS News. “It’s meant to be heroic. But the sounds are not booming chimes. They’re meant to be actually quite subtle and intimate.”
Click below to watch part of the ceremony and have a listen for yourself.
