For the past nine days I’ve worked solidly on the soundscape of the second movement. A good portion of it is completed. There are over 200 sound-files (for this movement alone) that will be activated, on cue, during the live performance. A majority of the sounds are created from shoveling rocks in my backyard. Other sounds come from train whistles, band saws, the hum of electric lights, water and many synthesized sounds.

Here is a screen shot from this morning; working with sound-files in Digital Performer. Click for a larger image.



Here is a sample of the first 30 seconds of the soundscape. You’ll hear the sound of shoveling, at first just the hard and piercing impact of the blade. Granularized sounds of the rocks gradually emerge. At the end of this short sequence a train whistle is heard, followed by clacking sounds. In this movement the sounds of rocks (coal) and trains (coal carts and coal transportation) become the backdrop for the orchestra.