Auscultating authenticity

This article evaluates phenomenological understandings of sonic interiority and authenticity in order to suggest a theoretical basis for researching the acoustic heritage of religious interiors. Turning to fields like anthropology and archaeoacoustics is instructive as it reveals intimate relationships between acoustic properties of structures, culture and religion. Pre-modern European experiences of sound, for instance, have exploited the intimacy of aural experience through highly reverberating church interiors as well as the emphasis on hearing in general. Sonic urban experiences are radically different in contemporary cities due to extreme sensory stimulation. Using phenomenological references, I suggest lending an ear to sonic interiors of the past, revealing their authenticities of experiences. However, authenticity here is not related to fixed meaning. The goal is to emphasize the distinctive qualities of experiences themselves, rather than seeking universal principles or essential truths behind sounds and sensory experience. The essay contributes to architectural theory and heritage research by highlighting the salience of phenomenological approaches in understanding spaces of acoustic heritage. It also contributes to debates of authenticity in heritage research by introducing sound as a speculative element to consider in terms of meaning and experience.