Negative Spaces

Fells, N. and Strachan, Z. (2015) Negative Spaces. [Compositions]

[img] Audio (mp3 of radiophonic broadcast)
negative_spaces_fells-strachan.mp3
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

72MB

Publisher's URL: http://radiophrenia.scot

Abstract

Negative Spaces is a 30 minute stereo radiophonic piece comprising an experimental adaptation of Zoë Strachan’s first novel, Negative Space (2002). Set in Glasgow, Negative Space tells the story of a young woman reeling from the death of her brother. It traces the process of grief from paralysis to its most self-destructive excesses, weaving a path through the city itself as the protagonist’s memories impact vividly on her lived present. The audio work is based on extracts of the book, using the idea of ‘negative space’ translated into a spatial ‘cut out’ approach applied to sound recordings. Key scenes from the book set in specific locations were rewritten for voice and recorded with actor Cat Elliott. These were then treated, removing vocal sound to leave mostly reflected sound - the sound of the space itself. The treated recordings were used as source material to create an interplay of voice, space and mediated sound. The piece aims to create a journey through spaces and abstracted textures that in various ways exhibit absence of narrative whilst attempting to remain true to the conceptual core of the novel through tone and sense of place. The piece was created for and aired on Radiophrenia, a temporary experimental radio station that broadcast from Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts in April 2015.

Item Type:Compositions
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Fells, Professor Nick and Strachan, Ms Zoe
Authors: Fells, N., and Strachan, Z.
Subjects:M Music and Books on Music > M Music
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Music
Publisher:Radiophrenia
Copyright Holders:Nick Fells, Zoë Strachan

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