Sonic snapshots from Dollar

First you hear the recordist walking on the gravel and opening and closing the squeaky gate on the way the Lawhill Community Woodland located right above the village. On top of the Lawhill you can hear the sounds what are most likely from the open cast mine few miles south of Dollar. On the way back a keen gardener is whistling a song ´Waterloo Sunset`. Right after that the church bells are calling the congregation to hear the sermon. The recordist is standing on the bank of the Dollar Burn. After an excerpt of the holy sermon we can hear church bells one more time followed by more vernacular sounds from the local grocery shop: refrigerator keynote sounds and radio music accompanied by the discussion of the customers. These are followed by the sounds from other business premises on the main road such as kids playing cards, clinking of cutlery and by Karaoke singing from the local pub.

Pipe band

The sound of the Dollar Academy Pipe Band is definitely one of the main sonic attractions of Dollar. During the summer season the pipers practice in the yard of the Academy and the sound can be heard several miles from the village. The practice sessions were considered very pleasant by many of the villagers.

Dollar Burn

Dollar Burn runs on the west side of the village and under the main road A91. The stream's beautiful sound is dependent on the time of the year. The melting snow on the hills contributes the amount of the water and thus changes the everpresent sound of the burn. The sound can be heard quite clearly along the main road in Dollar, especially at night when there is no traffic or other sounds masking it (photo taken in April 2011).

Sounds of Dollar

The soundscape of Dollar recorded at different times of day in spring 2002. The general soundscape can be observed, including how the various places differ sonically from each other. Each sample lasts 30 seconds.

a) Manse Road, 26 March, 2002, 7:48 a.m.

b) Bridge Street, 26 March, 2002, 8:08 a.m.

c) Dewar Street, 26 March, 2002, 8:25 a.m.

d) Strachan Crescent, 26 March, 2002, 8:44 a.m.

e) Manse Road, 26 March, 2002, 11:53 a.m.

f) Manse Road, 26 March, 2002, 3:44 p.m.

g) Bridge Street, 26 March, 2002, 3:55 p.m.

h) Dollar Glen, 18 March, 2002, 4:00 p.m.

i) Above Dollar, 18 March, 2002, 5:18 p.m.