UC Riverside

Strategies of musical symmetry can partition an aural space in a manner similar to the way that scales partition an octave. In an exploration of a 12-channel diffusion system, I will compose three musical pieces expressing various methods of designing symmetrical based aural spatial premises with the goal of creating an experienceable spatial harmony. To achieve this, I will first design a cuboctahedral speaker array capable of representing multiple spatial harmonies. Second, I will develop a notation system that symmetrically visually represents the spatial harmonies for compositional intentionality. Finally, I will program a Max MSP software patch capable of integrating the array and notation for playback experiences and compositional interpretations. After these processes are outlined and described, I will then compose three etudes to demonstrate diverse methods of compositional strategies; they are dedicated to, and inspired by the works of Terrence McKenna, Nicola Tesla, and Carl Sagan.