Discreet Music In B: Invigorating Symphonic Sounds

Inspired by “Discreet Music” by Brian Eno and “In C” by Terry Riley, this Process Music project for a large orchestra follows similar instructions: small musical snippets repeated with different durations and phasing with other instruments. Every sound was created using live acoustic instruments, although digitally processed and looped, sped up in double time, and some in reverse. Instruments include cello, violin, clarinet, flute, oboe, trumpet, and trombone. Some processing and alternative tunings simulated the sounds of similar instruments in different ranges. The overall effect produces a trance-inducing symphonic piece for a small ensemble with as many as a hundred instruments heard at a time.