Abstract

The »azan« is the Muslim call to prayer and can be heard in any Muslim country. It is heard five times a day, following a specific recitation of words that are repeated a number of times. Similar to a rondo, the »azan« is a refrain that is heard repeatedly though with slight differences when recited by a different »muezzin« each time. The call to prayer is as generic as it is specific to the Islamic population. As a non-Muslim living in a Muslim country, I ponder upon how the ‘azan’ has entered our consciousness: is it disruptive? Or has the »azan« become a backdrop for banality? What are the rules and exceptions to our mode of listening for or listening to the »azan«? Taken from field recordings of different mosques and other pre-recorded »azan« available, this audio paper investigates the private and public ways in which we encounter or engage with sounds, questioning the particularity of sound events as they enter our acoustic boundaries.