CP Case Study: Ambient sounds

CASE STUDY: AMBIENT MUSIC

For my work in the Collaborative Project, I will be producing a 5 Track EP along with my co-producers. To help create an overall theme of the EP, we have chosen to base our sounds on the genre of Ambience. In this case study, I will look into the history of Ambience as a genre and the dynamics of the sounds used in ambient music today.

HISTORY OF THE GENRE

The origins of Ambient Music can be linked back to the work and compositions of the early 20th-century French composer, Erik Satie and his pivotal work within the classical Avante-Garde, a movement which prided itself in being at the forefront of unorthodox art. (1). Satie's ideas of creating pieces as background music rather than being at the centre of attention formed the early foundations of the Ambient Genre. This young concept was labelled as 'furniture music', and was designed to be heard but not listened to. (2)

The evolution of background music also has a big part to play in the roots of ambience. In the Early 20s, US Major General George O. Squier used his skills as an inventor and Army Chief Signal Officer to develop a method of sending music via Electrical wires (3). Progressing into the twentieth century, demand for music intended to be played in the background of public spaces grew. Squier took his invention and developed it into a company named 'Muzak inc', supplying background music for all types of businesses such as Hotels, bars, restaurants as well as elevators (4).  

BRIAN ENO IN HIS STUDIO
(2002)

The term 'Ambience' was first coined by British producer, Brian Eno, in the liner notes of his 1972 album, 'Ambient 1: Music For Airports. In these notes, Eno elaborates on his outlook of Ambient music and the ideas and concepts behind his music (5).


"An ambience is defined as an atmosphere, or a surrounding influence: a tint. My intention is to produce original pieces ostensibly (but not exclusively) for particular times and situations with a view to building up a small but versatile catalogue of environmental music suited to a wide variety of moods and atmospheres."

Brian Eno's words within the sleeve notes of his album 'Ambient 1: Music for Airports


 Instead of creating background music that was intended to blanket the environment and divert from its natural acoustics, Eno wanted to produce music to enhance these acoustics and induce composure for the mind (5). Furthermore to his concept, the producers work within the album does not follow conventional musical concepts or rules. Eno's 4 track project features chunks of instruments and atmospheric sounds playing in no particular order, excluding key musical aspects such as melodies and chords (6). 

THE MODERN AMBIENT SOUND

While researching through Ambient Music and listening to older and modern Ambient tracks, it is clear for me to see that the concepts and experimentation of artists such as Erik Satie and Brian Eno have had a big impact on the Ambient Genre. Their ideas of using and enhancing the atmosphere with dynamic sounds can be found frequently among Ambient Music. The genre has evolved into a style that retains the use of lots of sound design elements. In Ambient Tracks, textural pads and instruments combined with atmospherical effects are used to create longing soundscapes that drive through the song. The Timbre and harmonic qualities of these sounds are emphasised more than their harmony and melodic characteristics and are sculpted for long time-scales within the track. With the exclusion of melodies and chords, envelopes and flutters within the frequencies are used to create movement and replace the use of rhythm evident in other genres.

THESE POINTS ARE EVIDENT IN THE EXAMPLE TRACK BELOW

Layering these sounds is also essential in Ambient music. In comparison to genres such as hip-hop or rock where layers of instruments and sounds are used in contrast and vary in tone, the layers used in ambient music share many of the same qualities and work together to create a more monochromatic sound. For example, in a modern trap track, an 808 bass will stand out and create an underlying bassline for the song. In an ambient track, a darker toned synth may take its place in creating a low pitched layer.

Effects are also used in all aspects of Ambient Music. One of these effects is reverb, which when used emulates the space a sound is in and the atmospherical qualities that would come with that space. Implementing a large and longing reverb into the sounds used is key to creating a track with Ambience.

REFLECTION

In this case study, I have researched the origins and production of the ambient genre. Through doing so I have developed a thorough understanding of the genre and have applied this knowledge to my work within the project.

Learning the origins of the genre has been essential in my understanding of Ambient music as a whole. I feel like I have a good understanding of the concepts that the architects of this genre applied to their productions and the values that they upheld within the music, in turn, this has inspired my own Ambient production and this project.

In terms of production, my knowledge regarding the techniques and methods used to create Ambient music has massively expanded. Before starting this project, my understanding of the production of Ambience was limited in scope. I now feel fully confident in producing this genre.

Below is a loop I created within Logic Pro X using presets found within the 'OX-BD' VST. The sound shows a good example of the dynamics within Ambience and the heavy use of reverb, however, I have tried to implement less experimental techniques and emphasise more stereotypical musical aspects. This is because our goal within the project is to create an 'Ambient Trap' EP rather than a fully Ambient EP.


Ongoing, I am confident my research within the Ambient genre will reflect within many of my future productions. Although my personal production genres of choice differ from the 'standard Ambient genre', the energy and emotion that the Ambient sound creates is a powerful tool to add to my production toolbox, and I will most likely use these skills and concepts in future projects to come

166772https://modeaudio.com/magazine/ambient-5-production-essentials#.XRHwkJNKg0o

https://www.izotope.com/en/blog/music-production/understanding-atmosphere-in-music-and-how-to-create-it.html

http://music.hyperreal.org/epsilon/info/melchior.html