Search - Jonas Braasch :: Global Reflections

The core of the project "Global Reflections" is a collection of Binaural Soundscapes which were recorded between the years of 1998 and 2006. They are presented on the odd tracks of this CD. What has fascinated me most about these pieces is nature's ability to align independent events to form interesting patterns. For this, I took the standpoint of the observer; my credits are merely due to choosing the time and place of the recording. Consequently, the effect is often similar to aleatoric works of music. I hope you will share my enthusiasm about the variety of auditory icons in each Soundscape, which makes a city identifiable. All even tracks contain pieces of my own work. The solo improvisations in Tracks 2, 6, 10, and 14 can be seen as an abstract transformation of my perceived environment. Only the beginning theme in Track 2 was fixed before the recording. In Track 10, you might be able to notice my affection for repetitive and machinery like sounds Tracks 4, 8, and 12 consist of ensemble recordings with soprano saxophone, Moog bass, and Soundscape fragments. One goal was to preserve the original character of each instrument or environmental sound opposed to making their origin unidentifiable through extensive electronic processing. Indeed in some cases, the lengthy Soundscapes shape the character of the piece, and again I am surprised how often their aleatoric elements tend to fit perfectly into the music. "A Night in Battambang" was written in 1995 while visiting my parents in Cambodia. The piece was performed using the classic rock trio formation of lead instrument, bass and drums when I arranged the song for this CD. "Time to Move On" is based on a Turkish 9/8 rhythm, the Karsilama. Originally, the piece had a theme but in the end, I liked the track better without it. I decided to counterpoint the long, circular-breathed saxophone phrases with abrupt changes for the remaining instruments. The ballad, "Blues Me," started as an experiment while wondering why