A University of Aberdeen lecturer is looking for members of the public to help him create a huge collection of hums.
Dr Suk-Jun Kim, a lecturer in Electroacoustic Music and Sound Art, is leading the Aberdeen Humming programme and is hoping to collect hundreds of hums representing childhood memories to create a public sound installation.
The Aberdeen Humming program runs from November 14-30 and is supported by sound Festival and Aberdeen City Council.
The aim of the community project is to create a collective memory by asking participants to hum a tune that reminds them of their childhood. The idea is then that anyone who hears the hum of a tune that they remember from their own childhood will then have a connection to the hummer.
A huge number of hums were collected from members of the public during the summer via the use of a ‘Humming Booth’ which was situated at Seventeen on Belmont Street.
Dr Kim is now collecting hums in person with the assistance of a group of music students from the University.
There is still time for members of the public to volunteer their hums by contacting Dr Kim by emailing s.kim@abdn.ac.uk
Having already carried out the project in Berlin and Silver City in New Mexico, USA, Dr Kim is looking forward to seeing how people of the North-east connect with the exhibit.
He said: “Humming is a personal, intimate act. Usually when people hum it is either to themselves or perhaps to a loved one, maybe to soothe a child. Offering hums to others means that you are inviting others to enter your personal space.
“This project is designed to examine the relations between people and places, and how a person’s memory plays a role in this.”
The collected hums will be placed on exhibition as one composition at Seventeen, for people to go along and listen to, and hopefully recognise some of the hums. The composition, which will be played through eight speakers at a low volume, will not be manipulated, apart from the fade-ins and outs and some minor amplitude changes.
Dr Kim added: “It would be great to have as many people’s hums included in the composition as possible, so don’t hesitate to come along and get involved.”
For more information about the Aberdeen Humming project, please visit: http://humming-project.donotworkhere.org/#!prettyPhoto or contact Dr Kim by emailing: s.kim@abdn.ac.uk