QuFoam (2021) - for generative sound mass engine
(premiere San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, collab with CNMAT, May 2021)
- the system: - a real-time generated sound mass of 450 sonic particles organized into 9 waves of activity
- high level controls to interact with and evolve the system over time
- visuals reflect each particle's volume, pitch (sample transposition), type of contrapuntal
motion, density, and amplitude modulation pulsation
- presentation: piece performed in real-time with the system, though recorded and further mixed
(premiere San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, collab with CNMAT, May 2021)
- the system: - a real-time generated sound mass of 450 sonic particles organized into 9 waves of activity
- high level controls to interact with and evolve the system over time
- visuals reflect each particle's volume, pitch (sample transposition), type of contrapuntal
motion, density, and amplitude modulation pulsation
- presentation: piece performed in real-time with the system, though recorded and further mixed
About the work
QuFoam is a study in timbre and sound mass. The piece was made with a digital engine I made and continue to expand upon as I compose the music itself. This system consists of 450 audiovisual particles. Individual particles often play very quietly, but as a group, all particles sum to energetic sound fields. The source sounds are hundreds of short recordings, each made by striking a pinhead on a metallic or wooden object. Additional samples were made by time-stretching these sounds. At moments, the mass reveals glimpses into the source material of the individual particles while also generating a much vaster ocean of energy with a new sonic quality. When particles collectively play similar sounds, they organize into simple timbres, harmonies, or even melodic lines; with greater differentiation from each other, the resulting mass is more complex in texture and timbre. Dense particle sounds create denser but smoother masses (sustaining and without discernible silences). This is perhaps visually analogous to how the smoothness of a line can be constructed by plotting many points. Each particle has a “mind of its own”, a script executing code; the particle also belongs to one of nine waves, constraining and organizing its behavior in any moment. Additionally, the system can be performed, so that all particles migrate to different sounds on cue. The piece was made with the composer performing the system in real-time, recording the output, and mixing the result.
