Created by: Beth Horseman
*All of the non-narrative sounds in this piece were taken from a single field recording*
Welcome, you’ve made it to the cloisters
At the heart of the university columns and arches connect the east and west quads
Pick a spot
Listen to the sounds which surround you
Do they mix together?
How do the sounds fill the space?
How does the space shape the sounds?
Feel free to pause this recording
Take your headphones off
And immerse yourself in the real sounds around you
When you are ready
Put your headphones back on and press play
This is a meeting point of places people and sounds
What sounds did you notice?
How did the sounds meet together in the space?
A signal is a gesture action or sound used to convey information or instructions
How many of the sounds that you hear around you are signals?
Imagine all the footsteps heard in this space
Now imagine all of their echoes
Imagine every echo still remains in this space
And each new person who passes through adds a new sound
Now begin to move through the space
Notice how the sounds change as you pass between the pillars
If you feel comfortable
Make a noise
How does it fill the space?
How long does it last?
Does it match the space?
Does it sound like you are inside or outside?
Is the sound warm or cold?
Is there a frequency that stands out to you?
A pitch
A particular note
Can you grab a hold of it with your ear?
Try to filter out all the other sounds
And focus on this single pitch
Did you notice how many frequencies surround you
Did you feel the air thick with noise
The cloisters amplify some noises whilst blocking others
They soften voices and footsteps
Whilst stretching the amount of time their sounds last in the space
Ask yourself how far do your ears hear
What new sounds will you be aware of
What new frequencies
Now instead of listening to the sounds
Listen to their afterimages
Pay attention to the echoes and reverberations within the space
Notice how they fill up the space
Notice how there is never a moment of silence
Even when the footfall has stopped
This spot is rich in sound
When you feel ready to leave the cloisters
And emerge back into the outside world
Listen to the difference in space
Notice how far your ears can hear
And all the signifiers of city soundscapes
Appreciate once more the quiet refuge
Of the university’s cloisters
And the ambience they provide
In the form of sound