HARRY O'BRIEN
Composer Portfolio

Bio

I am currently undertaking a PhD in Electroacoustic Composition at the University of Manchester. My research focuses on the sonification of dynamic optimisation algorithms and the development of machine-learning approaches for generative compositional practices. I am an alumnus of the University of Leeds, where I completed a BSc in Mathematics and Music, followed by an MMus in Critical and Experimental Composition.

Electronic Works

Tone_Poem

Tone_Poem is an electronic study exploring the damage digital identity inflicts on the ego.

Plane Desaturation

Desaturation is a piece that explores the influence of public transport on electronic music

Acoustic Works

Disc...Temp...

Disc...Temp... is a composition for piano and electronics. The first movement uses sonifications of data from celestial gas clouds to create an electronic atmosphere, excited by the harmonic material of the piano part. The second movement functions similarly, but uses data from the hydrogology of the Congo river. Together the movements explore themes on the nature of research, and the relationship between researchers and the spaces they study.

Two Pencils

Two Pencils is composed with Latin squares (like sodoku), where rearrangements of the same dimension Latin squares underline the textural, rhythmic and harmonic structures.

Code

Sonamic

Sonamic is an open-source application that displays sonifications and visualisations of dynamic optimisation algorithms, so that users may better understand their algorithmic behaviours.