More than a ruined seaside resort : soundscapes of Birżebbuġa

Abstract

Birżebbuġa is a town characterised by different spaces where particular distinct sounds can be heard. Noise pollution in Birżebbuġa is a recurrent theme of discussion among residents, mainly because of the noises coming from the Malta Freeport terminals. It was captivating to see what the residents think about these noises and also about other soundscapes in Birżebbuġa. ‘Soundscapes’ is a term popularised by Robert Murray Schafer and was defined as an “acoustic environment as experienced, perceived, or understood by a person or people, in context” (ISO, 2014). This research aims to see how Birżebbuġa residents perceive the soundscapes of Birżebbuġa, to see where these soundscapes fall within Schafer’s sonic abstractions and how these soundscapes affect the residents’ sense of place. After recording sounds in twelve different spaces around Birżebbuġa, a focus group of eight Birżebbuġa residents was set up to elicit thoughts and reactions to these sounds. The method of audio elicitation led the participants to express nostalgic feelings, sense of belonging, frustration, serenity and concerns. Some of the main findings from this exercise were that local centre soundscapes such as the sound of the church bells which is a soundmark make participants feel a sense of belonging to a community. Natural soundscapes such as that of ‘Tal-Mara Cliffs’ which can be classified as a keynote sound conjure a sense of tranquillity although the research participants know that the waste thrown there ruins the experience. The industrial soundscape such as the constant noise of the Freeport, a signal sound, annoys the residents and sometimes the aeroplanes overpassing the Tal-Papa area can disrupt the tasks being performed by residents. The locality centre soundscapes reveal a lively Maltese locality. These are the types of soundscapes that made the participants feel nostalgic and elicited positive emotions. The highlights from the perceptions of the natural soundscapes were that such spaces make them feel connected to the locality. The industrial soundscape is the category which annoys the participants most, especially during the night or even when interrupting a movie. In certain instances, what is perceived as an obnoxious noise by one person might be perceived as a pleasant sound by another. The participants have shown and affirmed their sense of place when saying that, regardless of the problems that the locality has, they will not move out of Birżebbuġa, with some citing their connections to the sea and even their sense of belonging. It would be intriguing to see this study repeated in Birżebbuġa in ten years’ time, to find out if new soundscapes have developed if existing ones have morphed or died out, and if or how the perceptions and judgements of local people have changed. It would also be interesting to see studies on the soundscapes of other localities in Malta and compare these to the sonic landscape of Birżebbuġa.