By using sound and listening as tools for exploration, this guided soundwalk uncovered unique and unusual elements of Odstock’s stunning landscape.
A ‘soundwalk’ is simply defined as a walk with a focus on listening to the environment. In order to achieve this, Listening to Landscapes commenced with a series of aural warm-ups at Pure Health’s studio. These exercises were intended to open up participants’ awareness to sound and encourage active listening as a mode of interpreting our surroundings. This process is inspired by Pauline Oliveros’ Deep Listening practice and Nada Yoga; it involved games, mindful movement and sonically-prompted meditations.
Having cultivated an aural focus, participants were be guided on a two mile soundwalk around Odstock’s landscape, starting at the bottom of the valley and concluding with a view over the landscape to Salisbury Cathedral. Along this route, three stops were be made in which a selection of sound works will be used to highlight sonic phenomena. These included mindful and deliberate sound-making and the use of Jez Riley French’s photographic listening scores.
The event concluded with the performance of a soundscape collage. This work was constructed from field recordings taken from the route of the soundwalk.
Photography by Emma Cooper.
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/919087545121852/
