Hilton Soundscape

2018

In August 2003, the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen moved from its Hilton campus in Aberdeen to the refurbished MacRobert Building in King’s College, Aberdeen. Shortly before the move, I emailed members of staff to ask if there were any sounds (loved and not so loved), that they would like me to preserve through recording before the buildings on the campus were pulled down.

I wanted to create what R. Murray Schafer calls a “sound romance” – any past or disappearing sound remembered nostalgically, particularly when idealised or otherwise given special importance. Many such sounds were often regarded as unimportant when actually current - yet later, hearing them triggers strong memories.

Clicking on the pins on the sound map allows you to listen to the sounds and re-imagine, through memory, the locations they belonged to 15 years ago. Visitors to the map are encouraged to make comments about the sound, reflecting on memories that it might evoke, thus developing sound conversations.