The History of Sound

Lionel is a talented singer from rural Kentucky, raised on the songs his father sang on the porch. In 1917, he leaves the family farm to attend the Boston Conservatory of Music. There he meets David, a charming music composition student who is soon drafted at the end of the war. In 1920, the two spend a winter walking through the woods and islands of Maine, collecting folk songs to preserve for future generations. Lionel wanders through Europe in his twenties and thirties, building a new life of profound success and happiness, and experiencing new loves. However, he constantly recalls his brief time with David, trying to understand the impact of their relationship. Finally, a memory of their work together reveals why their connection resonated so strongly.