Irradiation from Sunconscious by Sounds of Space Project

This track features dispersive, chirping plasma waves detected in the solar wind, a stream of charged particles and magnetic field that flows outward from the Sun through the solar system. The waves were detected by the Fields Experiment on the Parker Solar Probe. These plasma waves shift quickly from one frequency to another as they move through the solar wind. These waves are relatively rare in the solar wind near the Earth but are much more common closer to the Sun. As listeners we hear an almost wind like quality to these sounds which fluctuate in and out of our perceptual sweet spots, moving with a steady state of change that is similar to many of the extended instrumental techniques of (musical) modernism.

The music is for a virtual string orchestra and piano, with the orchestra playing the main part in an effect known as ‘col legno’. This technique sees the player reverse the trajectory of the bow playing the notes with the wooden support on the string, creating a chaotic and beguiling sound. Over this we have marcato (semi detached lines), combined with a piano rhythm that writes sequential arpeggios (skipped notes of the scale) to provide drama and forward potential.

The abstract artwork by Scarborough is an energetic evocation in colour and form inspired by the chirping plasma waves and the chaos in the music. Using the traditional media of painting as background for the digital artwork, Scarborough also pays homage the work of artist Mark Rothko, a colour field painter, who uses layers of colour as emotional contemplative prompts.

Tracklist

2.	Irradiation	4:50

Credits

from Sunconscious, released December 1, 2022
Kim Cunio virtual string orchestra and piano
Diana Scarborough track artwork
Nigel Meredith science and 'sound' curation
'Sounds’ of the dispersive chirping waves courtesy of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

License

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.