Orchestration, Perception, and Musical Time: A Composer's View

Belkin, Alan

1988

Computer Music Journal 12(2): 47-53.

Language: English

The construction of a comprehensive theory of orchestration adequate to deal with computer music has so far been hampered two main factors: the enormous variety in the sounds available, and the exponential rate at which audio and computer technology has been developing. In this article, the author outlines a theory of orchestration based on the relationship between sounds and their musical/temporal context that circumvents these problems. The theory makes possible some useful generalisations that the author believes will not become obsolete with the next generation of synthesisers.