For an hour this Sunday, the Burrard Bridge will become a musical instrument.
Starting at 2 p.m., artists from the 麻豆传媒映画Soundwalk Collective and the Soundscape Show will lead a procession down each walkway of the bridge while a chain of 鈥渂ridge players鈥� uses everyday objects to play the iron railings.
The event, known as a Soundwalk Sunday, is part of an international effort by the UK鈥檚 Museum of Walking aimed at 鈥渙pening ears and consciousness to the complex orchestration that the environment is composing at all times,鈥� according to the event鈥檚 press release.
A 鈥渟oundwalk鈥� is usually a silent group walk along a planned route, designed to focus the participants鈥� attention on the rhythms and melodies of their environment. The concept of active listening is vital to the process, premised as the walk is on our common failure to absorb the melodies around us.听
鈥淪ilence is considered a serious thing,鈥� event organizer Helena Krobath told the Courier. 鈥淧eople think something bad must have happened for 20 people to be walking in silence.鈥�
But for Krobath, the reality is much more pleasant. 听
鈥淪ound walking is a pretty moving experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really meditative. It鈥檚 not like a rave or a party 鈥� though those are great things, too.鈥�
For the Burrard Bridge soundwalk, organizers will be encouraging participants who want to join in the musical creation to do so regardless of their musical experience. The artists will provide a few objects to the crowd, such as maple stems and spoons, and participants are invited to bring their own. Those who just want to listen are welcome, too.
Ahead of each outing, Krobath and other soundwalking organizers do 鈥渞econs鈥� through the areas they are planning on visiting, determining what times and routes create the best sonic environments.
鈥淎 lot of soundwalks will focus on urban experience,鈥� Krobath said. 鈥淚 focus a lot on infrastructure. I like heavy sound. I like to do places like ports and other industry.鈥�
Sometimes, the sounds of an area will catch organizers off guard, as was the case with the Burrard Bridge, which was not the original site of the soundwalk planned for this Sunday. The idea to walk down the bridge came on another soundwalk that just happened to cross it.
鈥淭he bridge wasn鈥檛 a focal point of the soundwalk. We were just trying to get from one side to the other,鈥� she said. 鈥淭wo of the participants, Matthew and Julie, just started tapping at the railings as we were walking, just interacting with it. And I was behind them, so the sounds that they were creating were reaching me from down the way. And I was like, 鈥楾his is incredible.鈥欌��
Sunday鈥檚 soundwalk will take place rain or shine, and those attending should wear appropriate footwear and clothing, as there are chances of scattered showers. Along with soundwalks happening in other cities, the 麻豆传媒映画soundwalk will also be streamed around the world as part of Sound Walk Sunday.
Those interesting in attending are asked to meet at 999 Beach Ave. (Green Streets Community Garden, located under the Burrard Bridge), Sunday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. More info at .
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Note: This story has been updated since first published.
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