UFU Acusmática: a exploração artística das paisagens sonoras do Campus Santa Mônica

Abstract

This research focuses on the field of soundscape studies and aims at carrying out a work of documentation and artistic creation with soundscapes recorded in the Santa Mônica Campus of the Federal University of Uberlândia, in Minas Gerais. The question that guides this research is: which approaches, techniques and methodologies can be employed in soundscape composition in order to highlight important features and details that, otherwise, might go unnoticed in the University soundscape? This research involved bibliographic studies, analyses of the works Into the Labyrinth (Hildegard Westerkamp) and Espaces Cachés (Jonty Harrison), field recording sessions, and the use of the audio samples in the composition of electroacoustic musical works in the context of immersive audio aiming at articulating the study and reflections generated in the previous steps. The creative output comprises four binaural electroacoustic works, which are available online. As part of the compositional process, I sought to reflect upon the main concepts related to the study of soundscapes, listening and space in electroacoustic music, the characteristics of the Santa Mônica Campus soundscapes and my memory and experience as a member of the University's academic community, in addition to articulating dialogues with the analyzed repertoire. The narratives of the pieces aim at providing both a documentary and an artistic record of the campus soundscapes, establishing links between memory and imagination.