Abstract

     Surveying over 30 years of compositional activity involving interaction with the environment, the author identifies 7 main approaches he has taken to the use of, or interaction with, environmental materials. These range from standard musique concrete style manipulations to works where information from the environment determines all aspects of what performers do, to works which allow aspects of an environment to be experienced for their own intrinsic qualities. A number of the author’s works are discussed, such as String Trio No 2 (1986), Yarra for Annea (1984), Natural Rhythm (1983), Wimmera Double Exposure (1998), and Playing in Traffic (2001). The paper concludes with a reflection on the availability of public performance opportunities for such works.