Sound in context: Acoustic communication and soundscape research at Simon Fraser University

Abstract

Research activities at Simon Fraser University over the past 25 years that bridge environmental acoustics and music are summarized, including soundscape studies, acoustic communication, soundscape composition, and the granulation of sampled sound. Gaps in traditional disciplinary approaches in dealing with environmental sound are identified, and an acoustic communicational model is proposed as an interdisciplinary alternative. Sound examples drawn from the author’s compositions, and the work of R. Murray Schafer, Hildegard Westerkamp and the World Soundscape Project will be included.