Exhibition Material - Aural Terrains

Final Aural Terrains Performance - Top View
(with a slight demonstration of the set up)


Final Aural Terrains Performance - Close Up View


Final Aural Terrains Performance - Audio Recording from Right Zoom H4N


Our aim was to promote the idea of something that we dedicated the entirety of our year to, the creativity behind technology and the possible motives behind it. For this we decided to implicate the idea of communication between technologies or electrical sounds. Communication has been done through many mediums however the one that is most recent and plays a leading role in our lives has become communication through technological means so we aimed to produce as many possible sounds that relate to technological communication as possible.
We had the circuit the basic foundation of electrical sounds. We of course had the laptop with an electrical voice over to truly promote a technological aspect to our performance. We had the record player being one of the original forms of music in its' baby stages but still evolved from that of basic circuitry. And we had a common form of communication in our lives interfering with the large speakers, the interference from mobile phones and speakers.
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Group Composition with Mapping Sounds (Metal and Nature):

The aim was to create a clear division between the hard sounds of metal and the soft sounds of nature and to attempt a integration between what has been seen as two completely separate elements. This was almost a challenge of one versus another and to challenge the criteria that we have been taught to learn and to test the boundaries through the fusion of the two distinctly different elements. The intervals of the sounds jumping back and forth showed the clear the divisions between the two while in the end the hard metal sounds gradually proved to be more and more dominant as the piece went on to show the fact that the industrial side of life was indeed overcoming the nature that we once had in life. Which is a common issue that we have also come to grips with which is present in this group composition where in the end it has proven that the industry is coming up on top.

Individual Composition with Mapping Sounds (Industrial vs Nature):

What I aimed to portray in my composition was almost done through a means of a narrative with pauses for effect allowing listeners to absorb transitions. I began with a timeline demonstrating firstly, nature in all its glory as the leaves cracked underfoot with volumes of water gradually increasing beginning from an initial water swaying. All in between the the sounds of a lighter and what sounds like fire in the background to exaggerate nature.
As a pause was demonstrated we moved into metal works with the sounds of building noises beginning from the simple hammer, to the sander to the heavy machinery all the while the footsteps of man sounded in the background as nature had almost faded as the feet traveled across not leaves but concrete. And ending with the sounding of a traffic light for the pedestrian, the opening and closing of a door and the sound of a car engine starting proposing that this piece was still unfinished and going places almost like a hook.
During the natural clips a slow interval can be picked up when the water volumes are changing to demonstrate the gradual change of nature. But, during the industrial clips the intervals between each tool and machine is quicker to show how fast the industry is evolving.
However one thing that demonstrated true transition was the use of an elevator for each transition. The track sounds with "ground level" as we start the track as nature moves in. Then.. We move into "Level 8, going up" as a cash register sounds to demonstrate technology and industry coming in but still going up. And finally finishing with a "Level 12, going up" Right before the car engine starts after the pedestrian crossing to show that there is more yet to come.