THE SOUNDSCAPES OF THE YORK MYSTERY PLAYS

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‘The Soundscapes of the York Mystery Plays’ used digital audio technologies to recreate York’s 15th and 16th-century soundscapes during the performances of the Mystery Plays allowing for reflection on their impact on the plays. The recreated soundscapes included elements of the narrative (speech, music, sound effects), sounds resulting from the performance (wagons, audiences) and those that were external (weather conditions, bells). Modern aural considerations were also investigated through the collection of oral histories of organisers, performers and audiences, in order to establish parallels between the medieval and modern experiences, allowing us to highlight the value of medieval studies in the modern world. You can visit the interactive experience and play with the soundscapes of the past here!