The synthesized fire consists of 3 component parts - hiss, crackle, and flame. Each of these parts was designed separately and then combined to give the sonic appearance of a real fire.  The distinctive part of the overall sound is that the flame objects are aware of melodies presented to them.  They listen for a melody to start and once recognized, make harmonic decisions once per measure based on a Markov Chains encoded with statistical breakdowns of Common Practice chord progressions (source: Harmony: Fifth Edition by Walter Piston).  I is more likely to progress to IV or V than it is to VI, but more likely to move to that than II or III.  Traditional rules of Common Practice voice leading were ignored as the glissando between chords obfuscates any harsh transitions.

For the debut performance, pseudo random melodies were introduced every 2-3 minutes with key changes occurring every 5 minutes of so.  The recorded version is just a short 5-minute edit of the longer piece, but I feel as though it relates enough of the longer experience to keep your interested without instilling boredom.
 
Looking Forward
  • Use pitch detection to utilize this same compositional effect on live audio.
  • Use human voices for the harmonizing elements
  • Alter harmonic timing
Thanks to Holly Faurot, Sarah Paulson, and Nick Didkovsky
 
SCORE / CD SETS
Title
Steam / Fans
Cat#:
MISC101
Limited Edition:
Hand bound, signed, and numbered
Run:
10
Price:
$100
Purchase:

BOOK / CD SETS

 
Title
Compositions for Computer: Volume 1
Cat#:
MIBK101
Limited Edition:
Signed and numbered
Run:
100
Price:
$40
Purchase:

CDS
 
Title
Compositions for Computer: Volume 1
Cat#:
MICD101
Limited Edition:
Run:
100
Price:
$20
Purchase:
 
Title
Steam / Fans
Cat#:
MICD102
Limited Edition:
Signed and numbered
Run:
15
Price:
$30
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STEREORRIFIC RECORDING CDS
 
Title
Various CDS / 10” Vinyl
Cat#:
Various
Price:
$20
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