Local Sounds Combined. A Sketch of Old  Basel’s Soundscape Colours Cover Image

Lokalne współbrzmienia. Szkic pejzażu brzmieniowego zabytkowego obszaru Bazylei
Local Sounds Combined. A Sketch of Old Basel’s Soundscape Colours

Author(s): Wioleta Muras
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Music
Published by: Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Kulturoznawstwa, Pracownia Badań Pejzażu Dźwiękowego
Keywords: soundscape, Basel

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a soundscape sketch of Old Basel (Greater and Lesser Ba- sel, and the historical Suburb). Field research carried out in 2015 allowed to observe the characteristic sounds of this area. Its uniqueness stems from the presence of water sounds (a thick web of watercourses and inland waterway sailing). A dominant sonic element in the city centre are the acoustic church bells and city gates. Th eir tones in polyphony send a consistent message with the city’s image. Th e diversity of sounds is ensured by many street musicians present in various spaces, but also tourists and city dwellers spending most of their free time outdoors (promenades along the river, town squares, and restaurant gardens), which contributes to a vivid human rumble. Restricted car access zones limit the presence of vehicle sounds in the Old Town, with the exception of the typical sounds of trams and large numbers of cyclists.

  • Issue Year: 4/2016
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 35-50
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish