one position to explore the sound in the space. Initially the larger scale interactions are noticed – how echoes and resonances evoke distance. But soon most begin to notice the nuances at the microscale created by wave combinations — regions of resonances (peaks) and passages of cancellations (troughs). Moving about and exploring even small shifts in location or orientation can dramatically alter perception of the sonic spaces. Though long durations make the work appear static, in fact they are subtly shifting in frequency and amplitude to cause changes in the sonic geography. The resultant shifting architecture moves about the listener as a shifting form.
If a sonic architecture is spatial by nature, it cannot be reduced to a recording and experienced with a playback of a CD. Likewise a photo is a poor substitution for the experience of being in a building. The idea of a sonic architecture that achieves a unity of music and architecture is to create a model that is intended to provoke awareness of our surroundings and the play of the senses so that we may begin to perceive the continuum of the dynamic quality of the built environment. j
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1 For a more academic description of the theory of a dynamic music in opposition to a static architecture see Gianmarco Vergani ‘The Question of Unification an the Musicalization of Art’ in Precis 6, spring 1987, New York NY, pp 164-169. Vergani uses linguistic terms of diachronic and synchronic to describe each field. I find that it limits the possibilities of each and does not account for contemporary music theory of Cage and Lucier. 2 For a presentation of the relation of sound to development of music style see David Byrne, ‘How Architecture Helped Music Evolve’ TED Talk (accessed Aug 11 2012) http://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_ helped_music_evolve.html 3 Para•Site was first presented as part of the fulfillment of Master’s thesis program at Mills College, Oakland California in 1996. 4 Sound can propagate in other mediums, but does need the properties of fluid dynamics. 5 Dimension of sound wavelength converter: http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-waves.htm
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