Fluor Sonescense: A Sonification of the Visualization of Brass Instrument Tones

Abstract

This paper is a discussion of the composition Fluor Sonescence, which combines trombone, electronics and video. The trombone and electronics are a mediated sonification of the video component. The video is a high framerate capture of the air motions produced by sound emanating from a brass instrument. This video material is translated into sound and serves as the final video component. The paper begins with a description of the data collection process and an overview of the compositional components. This is followed by a detailed description of the composition of the three components of Fluor Sonescence, while a discussion of the technical and aesthetic concerns is interwoven throughout. There is a discussion of the relationship of Fluor Sonescence to earlier works of the composer and the capture method for source material. The paper is an overview of a specific sonification project that is part of a larger trajectory of work. Please see https://vimeo.com/255790972/ to hear and view Fluor Sonescence.