Electroacoustic Composition Programme Notes –

Composition 1: Console

The concept:

‘Consoles’ uses a collection of samples taken from gaming consoles. Some of which samples are of the mechanical sounds of older generation consoles and accessories whilst some are samples of menu music and sounds. The idea originated by looking at Nicolas Bernier’s ‘Liaisons Mecaniques’, gathering a handful of samples using closely related mechanical objects inspired me to look towards modern mechanical objects with an array of different sounds that they create. I landed on consoles through the idea of gameplay, creating a composition that sounds like the process of playing a game, using only sounds created by gaming consoles and their accessories.

The samples and how I used them:

Wii Disk Drive

Ejecting the disk, Removing the disk and reinserting the disk.

With the use of GRM Shuffler, I bookend the piece with a disjointed, robotic sound that still very much resembles the sample. With the idea of creating the sense of playing a game, it seems only fitting that the piece should begin and end with the game disk being used.

Wii’s First Menu

Simply sampling the menu music to the Wii’s first startup screen, I used a combination of GRM’s comb filter and the shuffler to create a really interesting sound. Almost resembling the sound of bubbles popping, the piece opens with a fun and childlike sentiment. Intentionally reflecting the fun, nostalgic feeling that comes with playing a video game. This is also used later with GRM Freeze and comb filter pitched down to create bass frequencies (0:47), when the clip is shortened it leaves a really nice cello sounding thump. This same bass sound is reintroduced at 1:36 with the GRM Doppler effect to create a more developed layer of texture.

Wii’s home menu ‘click’

When selecting an application on the Wii’s home menu, it makes a ‘click’ sound and a similar yet slightly different sound when backing out of the application. Using the returning click paired with GRM Delays, I created a robotic style sound which to me really sounds like an error message. Following the welcoming start, this error sound throws the piece into a state of uncertainty. Also within the same sample, after selecting an application, there is a melody that is played. Using a minuscule section of this with the GRM Freeze tool and then sent through the GRM Comb filter creates an ambient yet unstable sound. Pair that with the previous sample with a large amount of reverb and the piece eases into its uncertainty.

PS3 On ‘Beep’

Pitched down slightly to compliment the tonality of the piece, I sampled the beeping noise the PlayStation 3 makes when initially turned on. With the help of GRM Comb Filter, I created a sonar like sound as if waiting for matchmaking.

Nintendo Switch Menu

When scrolling left and right between applications, the Nintendo Switch creates a really strange and quite amusing sound. I used an overdrive pedal and a phaser within Logic’s stock guitar plug-ins as well as the GRM shuffler to create an ascending and descending series of clicks, reminiscent of keyboard clicks. Heard at 1:54.

PlayStation Controller

(2:04) Flicking the triggers of a PlayStation 3 controller creates a very percussive snap. Putting this snap through GRM Freeze adds to the percussive element and creates an interesting texture in the piece.

Wii Game Case

In a similar sense to the percussive feel of the controller, the snapping latches on a game’s disk case caught my ear as being a potentially interesting texture. At 3:03, this sample is frozen with GRM Freeze and drowned in reverb to create an eerie texture. Accompanied by the doppler bass pitched even further, this is achieved well.

Composition 2: Harmony

Concept: With my second composition I decided to take the two instruments I am most comfortable using (guitar and voice), and use them in an entirely unfamiliar setting. I sampled a handful of sounds along the guitar, whether that came from the strings themselves or the body of the guitar. With my voice, I decided to sing the 5 vowel shapes on notes C and E. I made a choice to focus less on rhythmic elements with this piece and focus on creating an ambient soundscape through harmony instead.

The samples and how I used them:

Full guitar tuned to open C

With my acoustic guitar tuned to open C, it allows me to stay within key not matter which string is being played. It makes matching harmony across all samples in this way a lot easier. The piece opens with a full strum of the guitar clipped and put into GRM Freeze which allowed me to keep the ambient C chord lingering through the composition. Following that I use the beginning of this sample kitchen down and looped through GRM Freeze again to create a bass tone. When the full strum is used toward the end of the piece, I chose to use sudden bouts of silence to liven the piece and continue to feed the listeners engagement.

Harmonics

Playing harmonic notes that ring out higher than any frets on the guitar add a really beautiful and ambient top layer to the texture of the piece. The harmonics are played through the GRM Comb Filter. Later in the piece (2:42), this sample is reintroduced with the shuffler also which continues to add the beautiful high texture whilst differentiating the piece.

Using the guitar’s body like a drum

Adding a percussive element with the use of the guitar’s body allowed me to add great interest to the piece. With the use of GRM Shuffler I was able to create more of a clicking sound to fuel the texture of the composition.

Vocal samples

Using the five vowel shapes, I sang on notes C and E to fit the tonality and harmony of the composition. With all vowel shapes I gave myself all options of timbre with my vocal sample, however I chose to only use the ahh sound. Beginning with GRM Freeze to create a resonant note, I layer it with the same samples with GRM Shuffler to add to the texture and build the layers of harmony.

Higher taps to guitar body

Simply used GRM Comb Filter to create two bass frequencies. These sound more electronic than the rest of the piece and add a great layer of interest.

Muted fret slides

At 3:20, I use this sample of me sliding around the muted fretboard of the guitar. With GRM Delays and Doppler I created a sound reminiscent of birds flying nearby. This texture compliments the ambience of the piece nicely and closes the piece with a fresh and fitting texture.