Using a violin that I had left untuned for nearly two years I produced a series of random sounds over the course of several minutes from which I extracted pitches and phrases and made loops ranging between 1 second and 12 seconds in length which I then layered repeatedly.
I did not use effects such as reverb or echo. I have used automation to fade in and out for three of the pieces (II - fade in/out / III - fade out / IV - fade in/out). All four pieces make extensive use of panning.
I - uses 1 sample lasting just over 3 seconds of a single pitch which is then layered 13 times.
II - uses 2 samples - the first sample lasts just over a second and is layered 3 times while the second sample lasts just over 8 seconds and is layered 16 times.
III - uses 1 sample lasting just over a second that is layered 32 times.
IV - uses a sample of a phrase lasting just under 12 seconds that is layered 31 times
The process that I followed was similar for each piece and functions, to my mind at least, as an empty frame or situational structure similar to a riverbed with the layers of loops and their unpredictable interactions being like the constantly changing water that is sculpted by these elements.
I highly recommend listening with headphones to properly experience these pieces the way they were intended to be heard.
credits
released February 1, 2024
Written, performed, recorded and mixed by William Graham Randles
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