ISLAND (2000)

a soundscape composition for sixteen digital soundtracks

Island is a 16-track soundscape composition that blends natural acoustic environmental sounds with processed versions of the same sounds. The result is a visit to an imaginary island imbued with magical realism, beginning at the shoreline, proceeding up a rapidly flowing stream, visiting a resonant cistern, climbing to the windy peak of a mountain lake, descending again through a nighttime forest of crickets, and ending at a different shoreline.
Original sound recordings by the World Soundscape Project, Robert MacNevin, David Monacchi and the composer.

Note: the 16- and 8-channel versions of this work were created with Richmond Sound Design's AudioBox computer-controlled diffusion system.

For more detailed information on the work, click here. The sequel to Island is Prospero's Voyage.

Island is available on the Cambridge Street Records CD Islands.

Sound Examples:

SCENE 1: Shoreline
SCENE 2: The River

SCENE 3: The Cistern

SCENE 4: The Mountain Lake

SCENE 5: Forest with Crickets

SCENE 6: The Other Shore

... Island (2000), uses octophonic watery sounds. ... A drone quality is prevalent with repetitive sounds of metallic quality - quite percussive at certain times, and an intriguing contrast to the beautiful liquid sonorities of other patterns. Occasionally we can even imagine seagulls crying and frogs croaking, excited by the onset of a storm. Island creates a tranquil atmosphere, ideal for easy listening. - alcides lanza, Computer Music Journal 27(2), 2003, p. 118.

Technical note
The work was realized using the composer's PODX system which incorporates the DMX-1000 Digital Signal Processor controlled by a PDP Micro-11 computer with software for real-time granular synthesis and signal processing (such as digital resonators) developed by the composer in the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University. The sounds were recorded on 8-track digital tape and the AudioBox, and mixed in the Sonic Research Studio at SFU.

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