A "sound dialogue"/collaboration involving tonal music, ambient soundscape, and phonography. Ellerton and Doherty explore elements of space and silence, creating a sonic experience fostering a balance between the recording and the listener's environment.

7 MP3 Songs in this album (38:56) !
Related styles: ELECTRONIC: Experimental, AVANT GARDE: Lower-case Music

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Details:
NOTE TO THE LISTENER:
This work was created with the intention that it be listened to in silence. Most of the recorded material is simply inaudible in contexts like driving, washing dishes, dinner parties, or sporting events. However, once one has established a relatively silent environment, ambient noise should then be included as an enjoyable and integral element in the composition. The volume should be adjusted accordingly to strike a harmonious balance between the recording and ones immediate sonic environment, with perhaps a slight emphasis on the volume level of the sound recording. When a suitable volume level has been determined, let it remain at that level for the entire disc.

Bret Ellerton has worked in the field of music for many years now in a variety of contexts. His work ranges from experimental and ambient soundscapes, phonography and film soundtracks, to collaborative ensemble work, as well as music for children. His ambient work aims to explore the intersection between mind and sound, silence, deep listening, and appreciation for non-conceptual direct experience.

Michael Andrew Doherty is a composer, performer, and instrument designer/builder whose musical career spans a multitude of diverse contexts, including neo-modern and neo-post-modern composition, Japanese shakuhachi, Armenian duduk, phonography, digital minimalism, theatrical sound design, and experimental improvisation. Michael's musicking explores the convergence of silence and sound, considering silence as an essential and musical element, and the depth of mindful listening through composition and performance.

Grey Sky, Wet Sky

Part One â Ellerton
Title: Grey Sky, Wet Roads, Fall Colored Fields, and Electricity
Description: Guitars recorded 09/10/05. AM radio static recorded and manipulated with reverbs, other effects, and on board equalization 10/20/05. Part's status was "closed".

Part Two â Doherty
Title: Wet Sky, Forest, a Voice
Description: Phonographic rain piece from forest floor near Chapel Hill, N.C. Nov 24, 2005. Tilaphone w/fx, dhol (drum), lap harp, and duduk, Recorded Dec 2005. Part's status was "closed"

Part Three- Ellerton
Title: Alleyways Hold Hidden Beauty, the Pulse of a City
Description: Ambient sound recordings of four different alleyways in Seattle, Washington -mid January 2006 - manipulated rhythmically via computer. Hand drums, xylophone, sequential circuits six track, as well as reintroduction of some chords from part one â Recorded late January 2006. Part's status was "closed"

Part Four â Doherty with additions by Ellerton
Title: On a Snowy Day, Elements of Sun-Drenched Desert and Rain-Soaked Forest
Description: Phonographic elements: Rain piece from forest floor near Chapel Hill, N.C., a piece recorded on the ruins of a late mid-Pueblo period site in spring of 2006 in central New Mexico, and a recording of cicadas, crickets, and other insects in Denver, summer 2006. Turkish Ney, tuning forks, hand drums, dhol, pitched tile fragments, tile bells, and bass duduk. Recorded November 29, 2006. The part remained open after the 5 minute mark. Ellerton added acoustic guitar washes and voice parts with a single drum hit and bass note.

Part Five â Ellerton
Title: Like Water Poured Into Water â Skin as Rain as Road as River
Description: Field Recordings from: The Green River, Washington Feb 23, 2007(manipulated to rise in surges). Spokane Falls Washington -2007 (manipulated by isolating various frequencies and composing them via computer). Rainfall from a variety of places in Seattle recorded 2007/2008. Water sounds from the Icicle Trail near Leavenworth Washington 2007. Various alleyway activities recorded in downtown Seattle Washington 2007â08. I-5 Highway at the Denny overpass in Feb 07 and March 08. Other performance elements include: metal bowls, gongs, and voice. There is also reintroduction of segments from previous parts 2, 3 and 4 of above sound dialogue. Part's status was "closed".

Part Six â Doherty
Title: Suspended, Snow
Description: Phonographic elements from the Rio de las Animas Perdidas and Pinkerton Springs, north of Durango, Colorado in January 2009, digitally effected. Part's status was "closed"

Part Seven â Ellerton and Doherty
Title: Circulation
Description: Reprise of part one performed by Doherty on Armenian duduks (B, A, and Ab Bass). Ellerton added acoustic guitar, synthesis and reworked phonographic recordings from part three.

MUSICIANâS RULES FOR DIALOGUE
1) Listen to the preceding part first before beginning your part. Use the preceding part (or parts) as an inspiration or leaping point for your part (just like in conversation). Parts can be short â probably better to keep it simple - but do what you want.
2) Please determine whether your part is âclosedâ or âopenâ for additions in further exchanges. âClosedâ means that the part is finished and no additions can be made to it.
3) You may use any part of previous parts (e.g. notes or sounds) for your own part â like theme and variation, remixing, or other such recycling, regardless of the partâs status as âclosedâ or âopenâ.
4) Before sending it back, make sure your part is finished â mixed etc. for final production â this will simplify the whole process.
5) Please keep notes on each part, and title them for lack of confusion (dated with instrument and process description).