The puzzling soundmark of a cultural and tourism city: The case of Yogyakarta

Abstract

Yogyakarta is a city rich in culture and heritage, making it the second tourist destination in Indonesia after Bali. However, unlike Bali, Yogyakarta losses its intangible uniqueness quicker. This paper explores societies' and stakeholders' perceptions of Yogyakarta's soundscape, particularly the vanishing soundmark. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed to collect data through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were processed using a modest statistical method to show trends, and qualitative data were processed using the Colaizzi protocol. Quantitatively, respondents stated that the sounds of gamelan (a set of traditional musical instruments) and andong (horse-drawn carriages) are two soundmarks of Yogyakarta. They also recognize a third soundmark, namely the mystical sound of a marching band heard at certain times, whose origins are still debated. It truly represents the term “intangible.” Through the FGD, the discussants revealed that determining the iconic sound is intricate. It needs consent on what “icon” means because different areas have unique sounds. However, they agreed that Maliboro is still the most iconic place but has lost its soundmark due to traffic noise. The challenging part in developing soundscapes and soundmark is the varying perceptions between residents, visitors, and generations about the pleasant and memorable sound.