Infinite Music
When I first began experimenting with ‘ambient' music it was very much following the Brian Eno template and a good template it is. The beauty of his system is that it is extremely simple. Loops are assembled that are of varying length and are started playing. Their varying length means they continually rearrange themselves into new relationships. When short melodic loops are used new melodies and harmonies jump out; longer single note loops produce ever-shifting drones.
When Eno created Music for Airports he used loops of 2” tape, the longest being many feet long and being passed around the tubular aluminium chairs in the studio to keep them from tangling up. The eventual length of the finished compositions (Discreet Music, Music for Airports, Thursday Afternoon) which came from such early experiments was limited by the length of a vinyl record and later the CD.
In 2006 I discovered that a webpage could be tricked into playing many loops at once. This seemed a wonderfully economical way to produce an ‘infinite' ambient composition – where the loops could go on playing unencumbered by mixing them down to CD. The webpage method was only compatible with internet explorer so I programmed a version in Flash (having taught myself to do so). This worked nicely as the extra feature of a volume control could be added.
I'm sure the code could be better and the interface more beautiful. Who knows? Someday it may be. Enjoy the pieces. They are added periodically.
December 2007
Link: http://www.moredarkthanshark.org/eno_int_imagcon-jun96.html
Infinite Music Pieces
String Section Tuning Up (notes)