Steve Vitiello, one of the artists in residence at the WTC World Views Program, made ambient sound recordings of the building. He discusses figuring out the technology for his project and explains that, once he did that, he felt more in tune with the…
Bob and Barbara Krutzel were married at Windows on the World in 1976. They recorded the ceremony with a little tape recorder. They then discuss why they did so.
Lucien Samaha was a Dj for nighttime parties at Windows on the World for many years. This audio was taken from video shot at one of his parties, with what he describes as a very "international crowd". It features rambunctious revelers exiting the…
Pianist Ernie Scott used to play regularly at Windows on the World. In this recording from December 16, 2001, he plays the classic tune "New York, New York" and relives the moment of playing there.
Tilman Reitzle had always been dazzled by the sights and sounds of rush hour at the WTC. Finally, on June 27, 1986--a Friday--he brought his SONY ProWalkman. That evening, he stood on the platform of the PATH train to record the white noise of crowd…
Elisa Karp's audio journal--"a New York Everyman's Journal"--documents her experience at home on Manhattan's Upper East Side on September 11. She kept her tape recorder rolling as she made telephone calls and exchanged instant messages with friends…
French aerialist Philippe Petit caused a sensation in New York City in 1974 when he walked a tightrope stretched between the two towers. In this radio segment, recorded in 1978, he describes what he heard while crossing the high wire.
Classical guitarist Andrew Schulman's first regular gig was at the WTC. His composition "Molly's Dance" was recorded live in June 2001 for a program hosted by John Schaefer on WNYC.
Two young hiphop artists, Colin Travers and Eric Minor made a three minute dedication piece sampled from news clips. It is being played on WKCR. They poured their hearts into their piece "RIP WTC." Colin grew up in Brooklyn Heights and witnessed the…
As part of his sound installation Buildings [New York], artist Francisco López recorded ambient nighttime noise in the World Trade Center between January and March 2001. The piece, commissioned by Creative Time, was exhibited in the Brooklyn Bridge…
Photographer Joel Meyerowitz started taking pictures at the WTC in 1981. In this interview with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, recorded on October 23, 2001, he talks about trying to photograph the events of 9/11. Part 3: The importance of…
On August 17, 2001, a month before the attacks, Jose Mangual Jr. and his band Sonboriqua performed this upbeat piece, Boricua Blues, at the WTC. The piece was written with the towers in mind.
Musician Lynn Skinner recorded her composition for piano and voice on December 28, 2001. She describes it as a reflection on September 11 and a moment of hope.
Folk singer and songwriter Janis Ian, performing at the Twin Towers on August 1, 2001--just three weeks before the attacks--talks to the crowd and then plays an encore that now seems somewhat prescient.
Brooklynite Felicia Herman remembers the elevator observation deck elevator. She chose Windows on World for tenth birthday dinner and was especially impressed by the fancy bathrooms.