096129/Z/11/Z: Roger go to Yellow Three

Project Summary:The creation of a musical work for a consort of voices which explores the challenges of aural perception and intelligibility in a multi-stream auditory environment: the so-called 'cocktail party' problem. Taking as its starting point tests developed by Douglas S. Brungart, the work will consist of a musico-dramatic 'scena' during -which the characters named in a pseudo-Brungart test gradually come to life, their utterances coalescing into a story. The problems of 'auditory streaming' are ones with wide and profound significance: from the development of cochlear implants for the hearing-impaired to air-traffic controllers to composers of complex music, and this work will highlight some of the issues in a dramatic and humorous way, as well as -through audience questionnaires and a web-based survey - provide useful data for further investigation. This project will include a performance/workshop of the work and a recording using sound-around technology enabling further web-based dissemination of the work.

Grant Holder:Dr Edward Wickham

Organisation:The Clerks

Financial Year:2010/2011