DSP Assignment 2: From sound to music
GNED1203
November 25, 2020
Description
As we began to fnd out in week eight, seventeenth century composers sought to demonstrate the affective qualities of a subject via monody. Monody occupied the liminal
space between speech and song and utilized the newest technology of its day: the fgured bass.
For this assignment, I want you to take advantage of DSP to try and illustrate a
similar thing with sounds and music. Your task is to create a composition that addresses
the question of how we recognize sound as a sound or as music.
Instructions
Start with a sound. Think about what it is that makes something “musical” and try
to transform your sound accordingly—consider musical elements like rhythm, melody
and harmony. Perhaps there are already musical qualities that you can bring out, or
perhaps you will need to transform the sound somehow. Your composition should have
two discrete states, one that presents a sound as a sound and, following some kind of
process, one that presents a sound as music.
Requirements
Your sound fle (exported in WAV format) must be between 30 and 60 seconds and
will be accompanied by a short report (no more than a page) describing what you did.
Your report should attempt to describe the musical property that “becomes” from the
sound. Both should be uploaded to blackboard in the assignment section.
Your report should be formatted according to a style guide, and it must have a
list that documents where your sound sources come from (even if you recorded them
yourselves).
You can work in groups of two if you want, but the composition should be longer
(1–2 minutes), both members must upload copies to blackboard, and you must specify
that it is a group effort in your write up.
Suggestions
• Use sounds that are meaningful to you somehow.
• Try out some different effects that transform sounds and consider any musical
implications that the transforms might contain.
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• Think about transitions and flow.
• Try to blur the line a bit between the two discrete states, this will help create
flow.
• Don’t be afraid to be surprised.
• Try not to be too repetitive, once the ear recognizes repetition it turns off for lack
of information. Try to add little variations or a process of change.
Rubric
Both technical and creative elements will beconsidered in grading the sound fle. The
supporting report will be graded on its clarity, grammar and style.
Due date
Dec. 4, 2020
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