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New Web site apparently launched today (World Heritage Day) It has just been given a spot on the BBC Radio 4 morning "news/affairs" program

SONIC HERITAGE
Sonic Heritage is the first collection of the sounds of the world's most famous sights.
The project presents the sounds of 270 UNESCO World Heritage sites and items of intangible heritage – all reimagined by artists from around the world to create a brand new way of experiencing these spaces.

An interesting concept (though, personally i am not sure I appreciate the "imagined" reworkings). It is certainly true that, whilst photos by us and others help cement our "vision" of a WHS, the memory of its "soundscape" tends to get lost.... How many of us take audio recordings as well as photos at WHS?? I have very very few. Yet those sounds may well be more "evocative" of the site than the photos.....And in some cases more in danger than the tangible remains. (what we also need of course are "smell recordings"!)

Note
a. The inclusion of Intangible Heritage sites
b. The initiative has been carried out WITHOUT the assistance /support (or even knowledge?) of UNESCO! So - no logos to be seen!!! ("This project is not affiliated or connected with UNESCO in any way – it simply uses the UNESCO classification system as a basis for establishing which sites, practices and activities we would examine.")
c. The UNESCO WHS part is an element of a much larger project ("Cities and Memory is one of the world's largest sound projects, with more than 2,000 artists forming a global community with the aim of remixing the world, one sound at a time.") and the main map at "Home" covers many sites which are not WH.
d. Many perhaps don't justify the sound recording - did i really need 22 minutes of water passing under Ironbridge (and I am someone who quite likes "slow TV"), whilst the evocative sounds of sunset in Isfahan only gets just over a minute!

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Sonic Heritage

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	forum.worldheritagesite.org Forum / General discussions about WHS /
	Sonic Heritage

	Solivagant Partaker	#1 \| Posted: 18 Apr 2025 06:59 \| Edited by: Solivagant
		New Web site apparently launched today (World Heritage Day) It has just been given a spot on the BBC Radio 4 morning "news/affairs" program SONIC HERITAGE Sonic Heritage is the first collection of the sounds of the world's most famous sights. The project presents the sounds of 270 UNESCO World Heritage sites and items of intangible heritage – all reimagined by artists from around the world to create a brand new way of experiencing these spaces. An interesting concept (though, personally i am not sure I appreciate the "imagined" reworkings). It is certainly true that, whilst photos by us and others help cement our "vision" of a WHS, the memory of its "soundscape" tends to get lost.... How many of us take audio recordings as well as photos at WHS?? I have very very few. Yet those sounds may well be more "evocative" of the site than the photos.....And in some cases more in danger than the tangible remains. (what we also need of course are "smell recordings"!) Note a. The inclusion of Intangible Heritage sites b. The initiative has been carried out WITHOUT the assistance /support (or even knowledge?) of UNESCO! So - no logos to be seen!!! ("This project is not affiliated or connected with UNESCO in any way – it simply uses the UNESCO classification system as a basis for establishing which sites, practices and activities we would examine.") c. The UNESCO WHS part is an element of a much larger project ("Cities and Memory is one of the world's largest sound projects, with more than 2,000 artists forming a global community with the aim of remixing the world, one sound at a time.") and the main map at "Home" covers many sites which are not WH. d. Many perhaps don't justify the sound recording - did i really need 22 minutes of water passing under Ironbridge (and I am someone who quite likes "slow TV"), whilst the evocative sounds of sunset in Isfahan only gets just over a minute!