About this project

This circular sound walk starts outside the entrance to the Art Gallery and goes through various locations in Aberdeen where recordings were made during lockdown in 2020. You are invited to reflect on the differences between the recorded sounds and the live sound at those locations. Thanks to Pauline Black, Bea Dawkins and Andrew Davidson.

Audio samples

The Globe

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Walking up Silver Street the soundscape changes and is much quieter than the hustle and bustle of Schoolhill. In the recording there is an eerie bird sound and it’s amazing how much one person’s conversation can echo around the street. The Globe is normally a busy pub, especially on a Saturday afternoon when this recording was made. [date recorded: 11/04/2020]

Music Hall

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There is no traffic at all on Union Street, save the occasional car or bus. Pre-lockdown, this place was usually mobbed with traffic. With the pedestrianisation of Union Street in 2021, there is obviously much less traffic than before. Is this still the case? Should there be any traffic on Union Street at all? [date recorded: 11/04/2020]

Bridge St/Union St/Union Terr

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This was recorded at the crossing where Union Street cuts through Bridge Street and Union Terrace. This junction is much quieter than pre-lockdown. Work has been going on with the construction of pavilions and changes to Union Terrace Gardens – are these sounds still present? What sounds do we want to hear standing at this location… [date recorded: 09/10/2020]

About the creator

Pete Stollery

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