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Edgar Varese - Poeme Electronique Listening Report

 

Varese’s “poeme electronique” is a composition of sounds that uses spacious differences to create a four-dimensional effect. It starts with identifiable church bells, like ACDC’s hell’s bells. After that, most of the sounds are unidentifiable and difficult to describe. Most sounds are altered, similar to what is now possible with synthesizers. Reverb is added to give more volume to the special attributes and reminds me of a large church, which is introduced in the beginning with the church bells, so this reminder could be intentional. I would describe most sounds as squeaky and noisy. As I said, there are not many recognizable sounds from an instrument or like in other experimental music from household items. For me, Varese tried to question the known definition of music by using structured noises to create music. For him, music is nothing more than noises that are put or altered in a specific way. He uses different types of noises that have similar properties like the high-frequency noise from a microphone or walkie-talkie. The composition seems to be quite random, but he uses alternations with juxtaposition to create compelling soundscapes. This is especially visible with the two singing voices that start high-pitched and then get replaced by lower-pitched singing. All in all, the spacious quality of the sounds adds unexpected flow to the musical piece. Sounds can travel from one end to another or start in the middle and expand through all directions. Varese’s spacious work seems to be the forerunner of what we see (or hear) in movie theatres today. Dolby Surround, and the latest version Dolby Atmos, use similar techniques to create the illusion of realism. Natural sound does not just come from one direction. It moves and can surprise the receiver with sudden changes in space and direction. This adds not just to movies a more natural soundscape but to Varese’s “Poeme Electronique” as well.

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