Have you ever wanted to go inside a piece of music and look around? Welcome to "Polytempo Music" by composer Brian Baumbusch, a journey into the multiverse of sounds and the dimensions of listening. This work is not just music; it's a three-dimensional exploration of sound where music is fundamental to the experience. Baumbusch's composition features multiple tempos running in parallel, creating simultaneous timelines much like the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory.
The piece offers a novel experience of music as a physical entity in 3D space, where sound moves around leaving a visual imprint of its journey. This "liquid architecture," as described by animator John Whitney, transforms the listening experience into an interactive exploration. Listeners wearing VR goggles can navigate through this musical landscape, experiencing changes in sound based on their movement relative to the instrument speakers.
In "Polytempo Music," every instrumental part is independently recorded, yet hyper-synchronized through a master clock of click tracks—one for each musician. This coordination allows for the creation of what Baumbusch refers to as "tempo streams." These are visually represented in graphs that show the rising and falling pulse rates, dictating the density of instrumental sounds.
Baumbusch's influences include musical minimalism and Indonesian ceremonial gamelan music, which he intertwines with intricate rhythms, sound colors, and counterpoint. His music invites listeners to explore heterophony—multiple instruments playing variations of the same melody simultaneously—but with each instrument maintaining its own tempo.
This compositional approach challenges traditional listening experiences and changes the listener's perception of music, time, and space. "Polytempo Music" is both a visual and auditory marvel, allowing for an immersive journey where listeners can actively participate in shaping their musical experience.