,Ensphered' is a duet for soprano saxophone and tape in which a single instrumental line is fragmented and distributed between the two parts with varying degrees of ornamentaion. Sounds derived from saxophone were used almost exclusively to generate the tape part in which the various transformations are intended to create continous refractions of the saxophone line almost like ‘hall of mirrors’. The method used for these transformations was generally as follows: Recordings of selected saxophone trills were made and transformed using digital processing devices to modify timbre.These were also transformed by transposition to produce a llibrary of combinations with certain gestiral characteristics at various transformational levels.

These were mixed with a (digitally) synthesised component generated using the Composer Desk-Top Project (CDP) system running Grouch,C-Sound and the phase vocoder. Also included are transformations of various plucked strings. These components were used to form a series of isolated textutes and gestures through which saxophone weaves its solo line. (Peter Michael Vaughan)

Technical Background

HW / SW: Atari ST, CDP: Groucho, C-Sound Phase Vocoder

Peter Michael Vaughan (GB), born 1954, is currently employed by Keele University as a Lecturer in the Music Department with responsibility for the implementation of a course in electronic music. He Studied music from 1981-84 at the Dartington College of Arts and from 1984-88 at Nottingham University as a fulltime postgraduate Student, completing the degree of Ph.D. in composition in 1989. Since 1985 he has completed seventeen works.