The Specifi city of a Soundscape at Arbat Area (Moscow)

Abstract

This paper presents a variety of approaches to soundscape analysis. Also it aims to introduce a methodology of acoustic environment description. The soundscape of a central Moscow district was investigated and characterised by seven binary oppositions:

1. Character of a sound presence (dominant / secondary); 
2. Character of a sound (linguistic / non-linguistic);
3. Source of a sound (technical / natural);
4. “Dynamics” of a sound (dynamic / static);
5. “Subjectness” of a sound (anthropogenic / non-anthropogenic)
6. Role of a sound in a city scenography (event / background);
7. “Friendliness” of a sound (friendly / unfriendly).

This evaluation identifi ed main sonic peculiarities and opened new research perspectives.