Hello,

This may seem like a strange request but I’m just about to start a nationwide music project and for part of it I’d dearly like to honour my family’s mining heritage. My entire family on my father’s side from my grandfather to cousins, all hail from the mining community of South Normanton in Derbyshire. All of them were down the pits at some stage - my father and uncle started at the age of twelve.

I have taken a different route – I’m a composer and I’m currently embarking on a music project that focuses on heritage. Basically I’m looking for sites that have acoustic interest other than churches and cathedrals. They were built especially with acoustics in mind and as such are well documented – I am concentrating on areas that are more unsung and deserve greater recognition.

The two main influences that affect my family are mining and aircraft (my father and his brothers joined the RAF). I already have access to hangars to base some composition on but I was wondering about the acoustic qualities of mines. I know many have closed but if anyone could help my research regarding suitable sites that I could approach I’d be very grateful.

I’m basing my compositions on the natural acoustics (reverb, delay, echo, etc.) that a space possesses. The site doesn’t have to be in Derbyshire but ideally the space would have some connection with mining heritage. I’m looking at everything from mine shafts and tunnels to industrial sites above ground.

If anyone out there has any suggestions of spaces I could come and have a look at that have interesting acoustics I’d really appreciate your help.
Many thanks in advance.

This the sort of thing you looking for?
http://www.carnglaze.com/ 

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Poldark has been used in the past, Crofty may be open to suggestions.

Funny you should post this tonight, I've been out earlier this evening to keep up the old tradition of "t'owd man's candle" at Mouldridge mine in the Peak. The tradition involves leaving food. drink and a candle burning for "t'owd man" (the lead miners of yesteryear) but also singing carols over the candle while it burns.

I sang "While Shepherds Watched" to a traditional Derbyshire tune in there, the main chamber at Mouldridge has passable acoustics and interesting reverb effects as the sound goes off down the various passages leading off and echoes back. There are several other local mines with large chambers that would be worth trying for acoustic effect, or complex ones that could produce staggered reverb in the right places - Devonshire cavern is easily accessible (as is Mouldridge), Jugholes could be another one worth playing with.

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Good luck with your project! This caught my attention as I am a sound engineer and I always notice the effects of different size chambers underground. I keep meaning to take a portable DAT machine underground to record some stuff as the sound of even water drips reverberating in a long narrow tunnel is quite bizarre.I will be very interested in what you come up with, please keep us posted!

Dont know whether this is of any use - but we are working on a dig in the Weardale - We're something like 400 yards into the hillside, and around several corners, but we can hear people talking at the entrance very easily. Standing at the entrance, and shouting into the mine, the acoustics are amazing - the echoes are phenomenal. Welcome to come and have a play..

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HI, I would have thought that the ballroom in smallcleugh mine would be ideal.or one of the large ex-goverment secret estabishment buildings, ..good luck

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