Sounds of Home
A Symphony of the Immigrant Experience
30-minutes of looped sound and stories in an upright canoe
by Joanna Hay
2026
River View Park, Frankfort Kentucky
Artist Statement: Through a symphony of music, voices and sounds we celebrate people who came from other countries to build their lives along the banks of the Kentucky River in Frankfort. These immigrants brought music, food, craftsmanship, social work and so much more to make Frankfort a better place. What are the sounds of home? The birds, the water, the music, the train, the cooking, the languages - all sounds that remind us of far off places and people and remind us why we call Frankfort home.
Voices: Marcus Brothwell (Australia), Alda Díaz (Honduras), Rowena Duff (The Philippines), Masha Maina (Kenya), Siblings Joanna Hay and Judah Thornewill (The United Kingdom) with interviewer Jeri Katherine Howell.
Sound artist and musician, Joanna Hay, made Sounds of Home in collaboration with sculptor Mollie Rabiner, artist Jeri Katherine Howell, and musicians Marcus Brothwell and Judah Thornewill. Supporting musicians include Greg Pond, Jordon Ellis and Jonathan Keeler.
Sounds of Home:
A Symphony of the Immigrant Experience
1st Movement: The Journey (7:40)
2nd Movement: The Nature of Frankfort (8:30)
3rd Movement: Sounds of Home (3:40)
4th Movement: Music Vibe (3:00)
5th Movement: Language of Home (6:50)
(30-Minutes of Looped Sound and Stories)
Photo Gallery: Jeri Katherine Howell interviewing Alda Díaz (Honduras), Marcus Brothwell (Australia), Masha Maina (Kenya) and Rowena Duff (The Philippines) in 2026. These interviews are archived at the Kentucky Historical Society.
Music Credits:
"Down By the River" by Judah Thornewill, 2026 (Judah Thornewill - guitar and vocals, Joanna Hay - violin, Marcus Brothwell - bass)
"Indian Ocean" by Marcus Brothwell, 2016 (Bywater: Marcus Brothwell - guitar, bass and vocals; Jordon Ellis - drums; Jonathan Keeler - keyboard)
"Deadline Rag" by Marcus Brothwell, 2026 (Marcus Brothwell - mandolin, banjo, guitar and bass)
"Bunch of Keys" Traditional Irish Tune performed by Hay and Pond, 2001 (Greg Pond - guitar, Joanna Hay - violin)
1st Movement: The Journey 7:40
"Down By the River"
Rowena Duff
Marcus Brothwell
Alda Díaz
Joanna Hay
Marcus Brothwell
“Indian Ocean”
2nd Movement: The Nature of Frankfort 8:30
Rowena Duff
Alda Díaz
Masha Maina
Marcus Brothwell
Rowena Duff
Alda Díaz
"Down By the River"
3rd Movement: Sounds of Home 3:40
Masha Maina
Marcus Brothwell
Rowena Duff
Masha Maina
4th Movement: Music Vibe 3:00
Masha Maina
Marcus Brothwell
“Deadline Rag”
Joanna Hay
“Bunch of Keys”
"Down By the River"
5th Movement: Language of Home 6:50
Alda Díaz
Masha Maina
Rowena Duff
"Down By the River"
30-minutes Looped Audio - Sounds and Stories
Mix and Sound Design by Marcus Brothwell
Project sponsors and partners include America 250 Commission, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Historical Society, Canoe Kentucky, Frankfort Parks and Recreation, City of Frankfort, Visit Frankfort, Josephine Sculpture Park, Whitaker Bank, Joanna Hay Productions and Capital City Museum.
The piece was inspired by the America 250 theme of “We the People.”
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, supports “Sounds of Home” with state tax dollars from the Kentucky General Assembly in partnership with the America250KY Commission. For more information, visit history.ky.gov.
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Copyright 2026 by Joanna Hay Productions, All Rights Reserved