"Haunted Steam is an imaginary concert featuring the sounds of a Heigh hoo vintage steam train (recorded at a distance), a 1912 steam locomotive field recording, two tubas, flutes, chimes and piano. The locomotive recording provided the entire musical material for the work—melodies were drawn from the overtones in the original sample, wind instruments were selected to phase in and out of the train sounds. The flute and tuba were chosen as primary melodic instruments as they use breath (human steam?) to sound. Heavily processed recordings of a fast moving 1912 steam locomotive provided the rhythmic momentum for the piece. This work was heavily inspired by a series of works I'm currently composing: titled “imaginary concerts,” they create impossible musical performances (steam train with tuba, waterfall and string quartet, cave and clarinet)—all realized through the magic of acousmatic techniques. The immersive quality of the original recording is deepened and broadened using digital pro
