Hundreds participate at Moray Soundwalks

People across Moray came together to honour lost loved ones and reflect on the shared experience of the pandemic at the soundwalks.

Hundreds of people across Moray came together to honour lost loved ones and reflect on the shared experience of the pandemic at the Remembering Together Moray soundwalks.

Eleven events staged in eleven different locations over three weeks saw approximately 500 people participating across Moray, joining together to remember the effects of the unprecedented and devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

Devised by composer and sound artist Lucie Treacher, the soundwalks were developed in collaboration with community groups and other musicians from across the region.

Participants described Treacher’s 20 minute sound collage, which blended music, spoken word and field recordings, as ‘moving’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘powerful’.

The soundwalks were staged in remote rural locations like the Cabrach and Millbuies Loch, stunning coastal settings of Cullen and Hopeman, and community spaces such as Elgin Biblical Garden and the WeeFIBbes garden at Grant Park in Forres.

Elsewhere dozens of Sunday shoppers donned headphones and listened to the sound collage while getting groceries at Keith and Elgin Tescos.

Remembering Together Moray is a project created with the Moray community involving events, music and story, providing a space for collective reflection about Covid-19.

Over the past year, Moray-based lead artists Graeme Roger (wildbird) and Caroline Inckle (Studio Constella) worked with community groups, artists and musicians to co-create a constellation of sound, words and images to support the Moray community in remembering together.

Lead artists Graeme Roger (wildbird) and Caroline Inkle (Studio Constella) said:

“We have been absolutely delighted with the response to the soundwalks, which have seen around 500 people participating from across Moray at 11 locations as diverse as the Cabrach, Cullen Beach and Elgin Tesco.
The feedback and conversations with participants have been particularly touching, with some people taking the soundwalk as an opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones or to let go of difficult Covid experiences.
Many people simply took a moment to experience the sounds, music, poetry and voices of Moray and to reflect on their Covid experience in their favourite beauty spot or while shopping.
The diverse responses to the sound walk reflect the varied impact that Covid had and continues to have on us all as a community alongside the common thread of shared experience that connects us.
We are very grateful to all who came along to the sound walks, and we are now looking forward to the next phase of the project, which includes a community celebration and the premiering of a new traditional tune for Moray by Duncan Chisholm and Hamish Napier at Fochabers Village Institute on the evening of 22 September.”

Members of the public can book a ticket the event in Fochabers with this LINK

Participants Feedback

“Thank you for such a beautifully constructed and moving piece. We had blocked out what a bizarre and sad time the pandemic was; this was a timely reminder”

“So crazy, so amazing to reflect on something you had put out of your mind. Immersive, yes. Memorable, yes. So well done”

“Beautiful. A moving experience in an extraordinary place, magical and unforgettable, and a well-timed reminder of a traumatic time”

“Thank you. That was quite a surprisingly connecting experience. It totally lifted me out of a pretty difficult alone space this morning. Thank you”

“I've never enjoyed walking around Tesco, but today, listening it was hard to leave”

“I thought it was quite emotional actually. Good to hear the good and the bad!! Really wow”

“I thought it was very good and nice to listen to” (Effy - 5yrs old)

“It was a lovely mix of different sounds, enjoyed the poetry and songs. Strange to remember such times when everything is so different now. Thank you”