By Dr. Tin Cugelj (University of Nottingham)
Full title: Soundship: Resounding Ships — Sound and Music of Sacred Sea Travel between Venice and Jerusalem (c. 1450–1650)
The maritime route between Venice and Jerusalem in the 15th and 16th centuries was a melting pot of diverse, multiethnic and multi-religious communities, all united by sound. Pilgrims’ diaries describe how sound phenomena – from trumpets to chants – created a sense of community among travellers, despite their differences. Yet, the significance of sound in early modern travel has been largely overlooked. Supported by the MSCA programme, the SOUNDSHIP project aims to change that. Through innovative research in sound studies, auditory history, and musicology, it will explore how sound shaped the identities and interactions of these communities, thus deepening our understanding of the role of sound in fostering cultural cohesion.