Listening to Social and Spatial Change in the 19th Century City

Building on the overall themes of urban transformation and urban histories, this article explores the aural aspects of urban change during the massive urbanisation and industrialisation of 19th century Europe. The article springs from the larger research project Lyden af Hovedstaden (Sound of the Capital) that joins urban historians and sociolinguists in a study of Copenhagen’s sonic and aural history and heritage and has resulted in numerous publications and a recently opened special exhibition at the Museum of Copenhagen (Parby 2025; Quist and Hansen 2025; Museum of Copenhagen 2025). How did urbanites and Copenhageners in particular experience the massive urban transformation aurally? And how can focusing on historical soundscapes and listening practices improve our understanding of urban change?