Earth & Sky is an immersive soundwalk through the wild moorland above Haworth in West Yorkshire and is part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Encouraging people to experience Penistone Hill Country Park in a different way, the soundwalk features new pieces from three leading contemporary composers: Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki and Gwen Siôn, local field recordings gathered by sound artist Sarah Keirle-Dos Santos, and classical music from Bradford-born 19th century composer Frederick Delius recorded by the Orchestra of Opera North. Three original poetic works from Bradford writer Nabeelah Hafeez introduce a spoken word element.

Gwen Siôn. Photo credit Tom Arber

Caterina Barbieri. Photo credit Tom Arber

Caterina Barbieri

Gwen Siôn

The artists were invited by Opera North to respond to the dramatic landscape which soars to 1,000 feet above Haworth and proved such a creative force for the Brontë sisters during their time at Haworth Parsonage:

Italian composer and Artistic Director for Music at Venice Biennale, Caterina Barbieri has composed a site-specific work located at the tumbling cascade of rocks on the outer perimeter of Penistone Hill. ‘It was the Limit of My Dream’ features her signature electronics, chromatic vocal harmonies sung by members of the Chorus of Opera North, and extended brass drones played by the Orchestra of Opera North.
Welsh multidisciplinary artist Gwen Siôn has taken her inspiration from the natural and industrial elements found within the landscape, including rock strata and quarrying processes. Her composition combines electronics and acoustic instrumentation, both unaltered and heavily distorted environmental recordings, and vocal recordings which include fragments from literary texts written about the moorlands.
Inspired by the flora and fauna of Penistone Hill and referencing her East African heritage, Kenyan composer Nyokabi Kariũki has experimented with the idea of a butterfly flitting across the wild landscape. Making use of muttered voice and choral styles, the butterfly (‘kipepeo’ in kiswahili) invites the listener to join her in exploring the terrain by calling “Tembaa nami” or ‘follow me’.
Threaded throughout the walk are field recordings taken by Sarah Keirle-Dos Santos on Penistone Hill. She has augmented two classical pieces by Frederick Delius performed by the Orchestra of Opera North with sounds ranging from birdsong to grasses rustling and the beating of a butterfly’s wings.
Bradford raised ‘Voice of the Hills’ Nabeelah Hafeez shares three original poems during the walk, exploring themes of family, place, nature and identity. She comments: “Bradford is the roots to so many stories, including my own, my parents, and grandparents who first came to settle here. My inspiration comes from these stories, it shapes how I see the world around me, how I walk through life and how I choose to express myself. Each of my poems bares these remnants, taking from old stories, memories and words, to build on something new. A reflection of the countless journeys that cross our pathways that we may never know about. The different forms of poetry reflecting the unique and beautiful landscape, as well as a tribute to my identity.”

After downloading a bespoke app on their phone and connecting their headphones, people set out from Haworth on the recommended 2.6mile (4.2km) route, with the soundscape activated by geolocation technology as they walk. Anyone who requires support accessing the app is invited to call in to The Brontë Parsonage Museum where the team will be happy to assist them. As the terrain is rocky and uneven with steep inclines, it is not suitable for people with mobility issues; they are encouraged to access the digital version created by York XR Stories which will be available from 24 May.

Earth & Sky is an Opera North commission for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and supported by The Delius Trust. The soundwalk is part of Wild Uplands which sees the moors transformed into an open-air gallery with a series of new contemporary installations by national and international artists placed across Penistone Country Park from 24 May until 12 October 2025.