Framed stories – narrative, memory and media in “Homenagem Subconsciente”
Narrative has existed long before people gave it a name and tried to figure out how it works (Abbott, 2008). “Homenagem Subconsciente,” a stereo acousmatic piece composed in 2015 at the Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre (University of Birmingham, UK), delves into the exploration of memory, nostalgia, music, and media. This piece forms part of a portfolio of compositions that seek to integrate traditional culture from my homeland, S. Miguel Island in The Azores, within a contemporary medium.
By incorporating field recordings from 2015 and selected songs from “The Folk Music of the Azores: Sound Anthology,” the composition employs the concept of framed stories to suggest temporal perceptions. This approach allows for a present narrative that can encapsulate stories from the past, guiding the listener through memories and nostalgia. Electronic music techniques are employed to evoke a distant past, immersing listeners in a soundscape that bridges historical and contemporary auditory experiences.
However, working with sound, narrative and memory presents several challenges. The subjective nature of memory means that different listeners may have varying emotional responses to the piece. Processing techniques, while evocative, can sometimes obscure the original material, leading to a loss of authenticity.
We expect “Homenagem Subconsciente” invite listeners to experience a form of auditory time travel, where the boundaries between past and present blur, and cultural memories are preserved and reimagined through modern electroacoustic techniques.
Keywords: acousmatic music, narrative, memory, culture
Biography
School of Music and Performing Arts, Polytechnic of Porto / CESEM, Portugal – amsdp@esmae.ipp.pt