ID#: 855

FM Devotional (2024) ; 8:00

by Jake Sandridge

West VIrginia University

“FM Devotional” explores the topics of memory, distance, geography, and community. The foundation of this work is a series of ambisonic field recordings and altered versions of those recordings. The field recordings are presented in both minimally edited forms and in highly altered forms. A primary manipulation of the field recordings involves a technique where the original recordings are broadcast over FM radio and recorded through a radio receiver, thus introducing noise and distortion into the original recordings. Throughout the work, a sharp contrast is created by juxtaposing the distorted radio alterations with the original ambisonic recordings. The original recordings serve as documentation of places and times, and the recordings being processed through the radio parallels the haziness and imperfection of remembering those places and times. Another feature present throughout the work is the introduction of pitch into the presentation of the material. The presence of pitch highlights certain qualities of the recordings, extending or exaggerating parts of the sound, similar to the way certain aspects of a place and time are emphasized in our memories. Note: If listening in the online listening room, the sounds are presented in binaural format, so listening on headphones is recommended.