Soundscape Composition as
Context-Based Creation

Soundscape composition, as pioneered by the World Soundscape Project at Simon Fraser University, has become a relatively well-defined genre, combining the artistic with the social, and often characterized as being intimately located to place. Although that may be true in many instances, it can also be understood as a range of approaches within an even broader concept, namely “context-based composition.” One of the aims of this webinar course is to provide not only a survey of historical and contemporary examples of this approach and concept, but to think more seriously about how it can be defined, what are its implications and affordances, and what emerging practices seem most fruitful. Special attention will be given to multi-channel reproduction techniques, environmental sound processing and composition.

Each week, you will be provided with Barry’s tutorial video discussions as well as the listed texts and readings. Our sessions will focus on listening (both in octophonic and stereo depending on your setup) to the assigned works as well as insightful discussion of this each week’s topic.