Topics
Electroacoustic Composition, Number, Formula, and Mathematics in Music Composition
Description
This composition relies heavily on the use of MIDI and audio effects to manipulate 2 synthesizers, which gives the song it harmonic and melodic progressions. A MIDI effect known as an arpeggiator has been used to create rhythm and dynamics on a multi-layered instrument I made. It combines my playing of chords on a keyboard for note input with a converging/diverging arpeggiated pattern over 2 octaves. This means, the pattern plays through all notes pressed in the chord starting with the outermost first, which is usually the highest and lowest notes, and then 'converges' towards the centre notes. It then plays the opposite, and 'diverges' back out while changing octave for as long as the notes are pressed on the keyboard. There is a sustain that comes from each note in the same instrument, and is not affected by the arpeggiator. To achieve this, the arpeggiator only works for notes held by the player, and not notes held by the use of a sustain pedal on the keyboard. This allows for a wide range of sonic and timbral qualities to be achieved by a single player in live performance. Additionally, the synth is sending to a filtered delay return, which echoes higher frequencies coming from the synth. This extends the notes being played and allows the player to move on to other chords.
The use of technology and mathematical processes in this track, allows for a huge amount of simplistic performance to come across as complex and rhythmically pleasing. The track consists of a percussion sample, a drum machine, a bass synth, an arpeggiated synth, a simple guitar melody, and a single sample of a guy shouting 'hey'.