Barry Truax
Encyclopedia
Barry Truax is a Canadian composer
who specializes in real-time
implementations of granular synthesis
, often of sampled
sounds, and soundscape
s. He developed the first ever implementation of real-time granular synthesis, in 1986, the first to use a sample as the source of a granular composition in 1987's Wings of Nike, and was the first composer to explore the range between synchronic and asynchronic granular synthesis in 1986's Riverrun. The real-time technique suites or emphasizes auditory streams, which, along with soundscapes, inform his aesthetic.
Truax teaches both electroacoustic music
and computer music
and acoustic communication at Simon Fraser University
. He was one of the original members of the World Soundscape Project
. His students include composers Michael Vincent
, Paul Dolden
, and John Oswald
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who specializes in real-time
Real-time computing
In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints...
implementations of granular synthesis
Granular synthesis
Granular synthesis is a basic sound synthesis method that operates on the microsound time scale.It is based on the same principle as sampling. However, the samples are not played back conventionally, but are instead split into small pieces of around 1 to 50ms. These small pieces are called grains...
, often of sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
sounds, and soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
s. He developed the first ever implementation of real-time granular synthesis, in 1986, the first to use a sample as the source of a granular composition in 1987's Wings of Nike, and was the first composer to explore the range between synchronic and asynchronic granular synthesis in 1986's Riverrun. The real-time technique suites or emphasizes auditory streams, which, along with soundscapes, inform his aesthetic.
Truax teaches both electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
and computer music
Computer music
Computer music is a term that was originally used within academia to describe a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition; particularly that stemming from the Western art music tradition...
and acoustic communication at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
. He was one of the original members of the World Soundscape Project
World Soundscape Project
The World Soundscape Project or WSP is an international research project founded by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer in the late 1960s at Simon Fraser University. The project initiated the modern study of Acoustic Ecology...
. His students include composers Michael Vincent
Michael Vincent (composer)
Michael Vincent is a Canadian Contemporary classical music composer situated in Toronto, Ontario. He is noted for his innovative works which combine electronic and traditional instrumentation, as well as his work with spoken word, which includes a full-length opera Generation X with text by the...
, Paul Dolden
Paul Dolden
Paul Dolden is an electroacoustic music composer born January 23, 1956 in Ottawa, Canada, and currently living in Montréal, Canada.Paul Dolden is an electroacoustic music composer born January 23, 1956 in Ottawa, Canada, and currently living in Montréal, Canada.Paul Dolden is an electroacoustic...
, and John Oswald
John Oswald (composer)
John Oswald is a Canadian composer, saxophonist, media artist and dancer. His best known project is Plunderphonics, the practice of making new music out of previously existing recordings .-Philosophy:Oswald coined the term "plunderphonics" to describe his craft in a paper called which he...
.
Selected Compositions
- The Blind Man (1979)
- Riverrun (1986, Wergo WER 2017-50)
- Wings of Nike (1987, Cambridge Street Records CSR CD-9401 and Perspectives of New Music CD PNM 28)
- Tongues of Angels (1988, Centrediscs CMC CD-4793)
- Beauty and the Beast (1989, Cambridge Street Records CSR-CD 9601)
- Pacific (1990, Cambridge Street Records CSR CD-9101)
- Pacific Fanfare (1996)
- Wings of Fire for female cellist and two digital soundtracks including the Joy Kirstin poem "Wings of Fire" read by Ellie Epp (1996)
- Androgyne, Mon Amour for amplified male double bass player and two digital soundtracks including text from Tennessee WilliamsTennessee WilliamsThomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
' book of the same title read by Douglas Huffman (1997)