Aberdeen SoundPark

2022

brass, carillon, 8ch sound and boat horns

c. 45’

Commissioned by:

Culture Aberdeen/Aberdeen Performing Arts

More information on electrocd and electroprésence

Aberdeen SoundPark is a sound and music event, performed in and projected from three locations in Aberdeen City Centre – the Roof Garden on top of the Bon Accord Centre, the Art Gallery balcony and the Maritime Museum). In the work, I examine issues around space, place and identity, using the city centre as a kind of ‘theme park of sound’ where residents and visitors can ‘play’ during the performances.

I wanted to explore the richness and variety of the sonic and musical landscape of the city, as well as provide an uplifting celebration of its spaces. The work affords an immersive sonic experience over a period of 45 minutes and includes recognisable sounds of Aberdeen (e.g., church bells, boat horns, seagulls), mingling with music and words reflecting Aberdeen’s past and present and displaying the lived experience of the diverse community of Aberdonians. On top of this, specially composed music for local brass players, is performed in all three locations, exploring the distances between them.