Connecting to art through sound

Edvard Munch’s The Scream is one of the works featured

The world’s most famous paintings – from Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to Monet’s Water Lilies – have been translated into an immersive soundtrack, to help visually impaired people experience art. 

Composer Bobby Goulder, who has vision loss, worked with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the New Radiophonic Workshop, famous for creating the Doctor Who theme tune, to produce an album that makes soundscapes inspired by masterpieces.

People who are blind and partially sighted will be able to hear and feel artwork in a whole new way. The title also aims to help the wider public understand art – 46 per cent struggle to connect when visiting a gallery, according to the makers of the album. 

Nearly six in 10 lack confidence in their ability to understand artwork without guidance. More than a quarter of people avoid galleries altogether out of embarrassment. 

Bobby Goulder said: “The project combines several things close to my heart – the relationships across multidisciplinary art forms; the advancement of musical and sonic creative techniques; and the accessibility of the arts to the visually impaired community. 

“Our hope is to give everyone a heightened experience of these paintings, giving each one a story rather than a snapshot or an impression. I also hope that those, like me, viewing with vision loss, or unable to view at all, will connect with the images beyond the spoken audio descriptions.”

Robin Spinks, head of inclusive design at the RNIB, said: “As a low vision person, I have a limited visual appreciation of art. But the depth, texture and richness provided by the amazing soundtracks in Dolby Atmos really brings these works to life. 

“Many more blind and partially sighted people will be able to have a heightened experience through this fantastic project and appreciate artwork in new and meaningful ways.”

Daniela Bischof, senior director, marketing Europe at Dolby Laboratories, said: “We hope Sound of a Masterpiece will enable listeners to really feel and connect with iconic artworks, whilst making art accessible through sound – inspiring everyone to greater connect with creativity, emotion and history.”

The album features musical interpretations inspired by some of the most famous paintings in history, including:

• Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci
• The Water-Lily Pond – Claude Monet
• The Scream – Edvard Munch
• The Persistence of Memory – Salvador Dalí

The compositions mirror the textures, emotions, and contrasts within the art – from serene, rippling water to chaotic bursts of expression. Each track has been inspired by musical masterpieces, from  Debussy’s impressionism to Monteverdi’s medieval grandeur, and the raw energy of free jazz. 

Sound of a Masterpiece is available to stream now on Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. All proceeds will be donated to the RNIB.

Listen and watch how Dolby’s Sound of a Masterpiece was created.