If you enjoy spending some time by the sea, perhaps the latest National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and British Library project will be of interest: a crowd-sourced project inviting everyone to record and share the sounds of coastal areas to help create an archive.
The partners write:
The public is being asked to record the sounds that shape and define our relationship with the coast around the UK in a three-month crowd sourced sound project – ‘sounds of our shores’ – being launched today by the National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and the British Library.
The public is being asked to record the sounds that shape and define our relationship with the coast around the UK in a three-month crowd sourced sound project – ‘sounds of our shores’ – being launched today by the National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and the British Library.
Sounds of the Scottish coastline can be uploaded on to the first ever UK coastal sound map, hosted on the British Library website. These might include the unmistakable calls of kittiwakes at St Abb’s Head, the clamour of seals on Mingulay or the tidal echoes from Culzean Castle’s sea caves.
All of the recordings will be added to the British Library Sound Archive – capturing for all time soundscapes from the beautiful and diverse UK coastline that future generations will be able to hear.
Musician, producer and founder member of Human League and Heaven 17, Martyn Ware, will be using the sounds recorded by the public, which could include sounds from the around the Scottish coast, to create a brand new piece of music for release in February 2016.
The National Trust for Scotland cares over 1000 miles of Scottish coastline and 400 islands, including Fair Isle, Staffa and St Kilda.
Dr Richard Luxmoore, Senior Nature Advisor from the National Trust for Scotland said: ‘Whether it is the timeless surge of Atlantic swells in Staffa’s Fingall’s Cave, the rattle of halliards against hundreds of masts in a bursting marina, the howl of Europe’s strongest winds over the primeval cliffs of St Kilda, the gentle sough of waves on the white coral strand of Iona, the unearthly nocturnal singing of grey seals on a skerry or the rhythmic swishing of a wind turbine, the coast clamours for our attention and leaves an indelible impression on our hearts.’
Cheryl Tipp, Curator of Wildlife and Environment Sounds at the British Library, said: ‘There is something really evocative about the sounds of our coast; they help shape our memories of the coastline and immediately transport us to a particular time or place whenever we hear them. As millions of us head to the coast this summer for holidays or day trips we want the public to get involved by recording the sounds of our amazing coastline and add them to the sound map. This could be someone wrestling with putting up a deck-chair, the sounds of a fish and chip shop or a busy port. We’d also love to hear from people that might have historic coastal sounds, from around Scotland’s coast which might, for example, be stored in a box in the loft. This will help us hear how the sounds of that coastline have changed over the years.’
Sounds recorded, whether on a smart phone, tablet or handheld recorder, can be uploaded to the map via the audioBoom website or app (they are both free and easy to use. The sounds will then appear on the map, which will be hosted on the British Library website.
All of the recordings should be a maximum of five minutes in length and images and words about the particular sound can be added. People will then be able to share their sounds on the map with friends and family. The closing date for uploading sounds is Monday 21 September 2015.
At the end of the project all of the sounds that appear on the map will then be added to the British Library’s Sound Archive for future generations to hear. The sounds from the ‘sounds of our shores’ map will be used by Martyn Ware to create a new piece of music.
A 20-minute soundscape will transport listeners to the sensory richness of the coastline; capturing the working coastline and the coast where we go to play. Martyn Ware, said: ‘I’ve had a deep connection with the coast all of my life. As a kid growing up in Sheffield we’d go on family holidays to Scarborough or Skegness; I can still remember the sounds that filled our days at the seaside. There is something emotionally deep about our connection with the coast which has shaped our identity. That is what is so exciting about this new commission and I want to capture the sensory nature of the coastline, reflecting the diversity and beauty of the sounds of our shores.’
To get involved in the project visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coastal-sounds for top tips on recording sounds around the Scottish coastline and information about how to upload them on to the map. Participants will also be able to share their sounds on social media using the hashtag #shoresounds.
Search for shoresounds submitted so far
IHBC Audiobooms from Orkney Annual School (audio recordings to listen to)
