Working with Past Sounds: Reconstructing Historical Soundscapes

Participation online via Zoom (Link below). No registration necessary.

INVITATION to an online LECTURE

In the Musicology Lecture Series (Fall/Winter 2024/25)

Working with Past Sounds: Reconstructing Historical Soundscapes

Dr. Hasan Baran Fırat

University of Antwerp

Wednesday, 8th January 2025, 19:00 (Turkish time; GMT +3)

This study delves into the evolving discipline of historical soundscape studies, particularly in light of advancements in digital humanities and sound technologies. Traditionally, the field has relied heavily on monographic approaches and printed evidence, resulting in a limited scope of inquiry. This study seeks to broaden the methodological framework by integrating concepts from sound history, architectural acoustics, archaeoacoustics, and musicology, with a particular emphasis on the application of cutting-edge digital technologies. Grounded in the concept of Historically Informed Performance (HIP), the research targets the authentic reconstruction of historical soundscapes. By utilizing new digital techniques—ranging from text analysis to 3D sound design and virtual reality—the study explores how these technologies can reconstruct and spatialize historical soundscapes, offering a deeper, more immersive understanding of past sonic environments.

Dr. Hasan Baran Fırat is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in Architectural Acoustics, Historical Soundscapes, Urban Musicology, and Digital Humanities. His doctoral dissertation, titled “Historically Informed Soundscape Design: A Method for the Digital Reconstruction of Historical Soundscapes,” focused on the immersive soundscape reconstruction of 18th-century Naples and was awarded the “Telestes, Award for Material Culture Research in Ancient Music and Dance” by the American Archaeological Institute. He is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Antwerp, ARCHES. His current project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie YUFE Postdocs program, involves reconstructing the early modern soundscapes of Naples and Antwerp. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Fırat is the art director of Ensemble Rûm, an early Ottoman music group, and an editor at Anakronik, an e-magazine for Turkish music critics. He has performed as a kemençe player in various concert programs and also plays the setar.

This event is free of charge, the event language is English. You may attend only online via Zoom. To join this invitation ONLINE please use the Zoom Link, NO registration necessary:

https://maxweberstiftung.zoom-x.de/j/66472874162?pwd=G7XbvU7JsiuF6y8KxI0T8CjCzty7Vr.1

Meeting ID: 66472874162  

Passcode: 256920