Soundscapes of Via Eurasia
Soundscapes of Via Eurasia
In the Performative Journey project, we also focused on the sound of nature, surroundings, and inhabitants. Since this project is based on site-specific performance works, it was valuable to shed light on the perspective of sound.
During the field trips and workshops, sounds of the surroundings were captured by a sound engineer/composer. Before each workshop, these captured sounds were converted into soundscape installations to guide participants to connect with the surroundings also in the level of hearing.
Some of the soundscape installations included:
- Sound of a performative action with a reel of water well interacting with the sound of a sea, installed in a dried-out cistern. (Location: Lycian Civilizations Museum, Demre – Turkey)
- Sound of a sarcophagus echoing a wild hawk from the hills and a concrete drill used to dig a grave at the centre of the village. (Location: Belören village, Demre – Turkey)
- Sound installation placed on the Roman bridge which is in use to pass herds, inside a thrown-away car tire found next to the bridge as a metaphor for things pass-by versus leftovers. (Location: Mirake village, Elbasan – Albania)
- Sound as an auditory attempt to create a contrast in an abandoned place, to open a door to the past with the sounds of residents of Elbasan Fortress and their doors which could be a vital sign. (Location: Fortress neighborhood, Elbasan – Albania)
- Sounds made of leftover insect shells installed in a cave next to the archaeological site in Edessa mixed with the sounds of an archaeological excavation team in Thessaloniki. (Location: Archaeological site, Edessa – Greece)
- A clubbing mix created with the sounds of found objects in an abandoned club, which was look-a-like evacuated in the middle of a party. (Location: Abandoned club, Edessa – Greece)
These sound pieces were also used by workshop participants in every location to supplement their performances upon their request.
Soundscapes were arranged for a final release, both as project documentary film soundtrack and as separate music soundtrack. These pieces give an opportunity to compare the sound of nature with and without human interaction and point out the contrast between the workshop sites in different countries. You can listen to 
the full soundtrack created at the following link:
https://soundcloud.com/user-135803937-159493452/sets
Performative Journey is supported under the “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the financial support of the European Union. The “Grant Scheme for Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU–II (CCH-II)” aims at promotion and enhancement of common cultural heritage activities implemented in partnership between Turkish and EU organizations. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is responsible institution for the technical implementation of the Grant scheme Programme, while the Central Finance and Contracts Unit is the Contracting Authority.
