Portfolio of Original Electroacoustic Compositions

Abstract

This commentary explores the ideas and processes used to create a portfolio of six electroacoustic works inspired by animal sounds and behaviours. The portfolio includes four acousmatic works, one installation, and one interactive work, and are presented in order of creation, as follows: Our Ancient Woods, Keystone, Pollinator Pavilion, The Noisy Zoo, Fiovan'ny ala, and Mersh. These works, created at NOVARS research centre at the University of Manchester, form the practice-based research completed during my PhD programme. My research focuses on the application of animal communication, both sonic and behavioural, to create new sonic means for nature connection. All the sonic material derives from field recordings of animal vocalisations and movements, alongside other natural and human sounds, taken at the following locations: Wildwood Trust, Samares Manor, Jersey Zoo, Ankarafantsika National Park, Lake Alaotra, and Oare Marshes. Sonic transformations were inspired by animals' social and spatial behaviours and guided by Denis Smalley's descriptors in Spectromorphology.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	David Berezan (Supervisor) & Rosalia Soria Luz (Supervisor)