Paper short abstract:

In this soundscape Van der Velde takes us on a city walk. What we hear is an attempt to harmonise the penetrative sounds of the outside world that reverberates and permeates our bodies and being. Can we transform this intrusive effect by reading the outside public landscape as an invitation to interplay, harmonise and react?

Paper long abstract:

On a short city walk Van der Velde takes us on auditive journey, where we move from the familiar sounds of the inside, the private, to the outside, public. What we hear is an attempt to harmonise the penetrative sounds of the outside world that reverberates and permeates our bodies and being.

During the corona pandemic The Netherlands, as many other places in the world, was in

lockdown. With curfews, avoiding contact and movement, the streets were silent and empty. As

spring approaches and restrictions fall away, the city is now at full bloom again. How can we

manage these changes, from still to running, from inside to outside?

When stepping out of our homes, we are immediately part of the raging outside world.

Here sounds, movement, objects are encountered by us, and we are caught in a balancing act, a dance with the outer. This public domain, is of no-one and of all. We must and will form it

together, as we all alter the outer reality.

Can we transform the intrusive effect of the public domain by reading the outside sound

landscape as an invitation to play, harmonise and react? For we are not a numb, static being, that sound is reflected upon, but we are an actor, we take in and are permeated by the vibrations. It is our choice how we react and send back to the outside world. For we have the agency and power to transform the living world around us, even with something as small as a fleeting sound.