i am sound

Here is a selection of some of my recent work. You can also listen to many more examples of my work on my Soundcloud profile. iOS users (iPhone, iPad and iPod) should also go to the soundcloud page for a compatible player.

Zoetrope
Transitions
The Enchanted Forest (2011)

The Zoetrope was a circular hedge row that acted as the entrance to the site. I wanted to try to create a similar cyclical notion with the music. In keeping with the Transitions show having no fixed direction for the audience to move I thought it would be interesting to suggest this with a piece that sounded “never ending”.  Zoetrope travels through all 12 keys, continually inverting chords and changing harmonic structure giving it an unpredictable quality.

Original music by RJ McConnell.
Additional sampling by Joshua Payne
Vocals by Anne Lothian
Saxophone by Michael Butcher

Windchime Chorus
Transitions
The Enchanted Forest (2011)

This piece was installed within a small wooden pavilion situated in the heart of the Valley. The piece was arranged to be contrapuntal to the main Valley show, creating a relationship between both pieces in the space.

Original music by RJ McConnell.
Vocals performed by Anne Lothian.

Portal
Transitions
The Enchanted Forest (2011)

An ethereal sound installation from “Transitions” that served as an entrance to the main Valley show. The piece comprises of various chimes and singing bowls.

Original music by RJ McConnell.
Additional sampling by Joshua Payne

Drone Henge
Transitions
The Enchanted Forest (2011)

An excerpt from “Drone Henge”, a section from the 2011 Enchanted Forest show “Transitions”. In the installation the sound is spread across four speakers, with a different instrument droning in each corner.

Original music by RJ McConnell.

Additional sampling by Joshua Payne
Saxophone by Michael Butcher
Recording engineer Marcin Buczek

The Weyward Sisters
Macbeth
Cottiers / InTheatre (2011)

Soundscape / music piece I created for the InTheatre production of Macbeth at Cottiers Theatre directed by Lawrence Crawford.    Actor Anne Lothian who played Lady Macbeth performed these wonderful vocals that gave this piece a celtic feel as well an ethereal quality.

Soundscape by RJ McConnell.
Vocals by Anne Lothian.

Macbeth Preshow (Excerpt)
Macbeth
Cottiers / InTheatre (2011)

Soundscape / music piece I created for the InTheatre production of Macbeth at Cottiers Theatre directed by Lawrence Crawford.

Cell Phone Ballet
Dead Man’s Cellphone
Arches Theatre (2011)

Soundscape / music piece I created for The Arches Theatre production Dead Man’s Cellphone for a movement piece described in the script as a “cell phone ballet”.
All of the sounds are from mobile phone recordings, treated and layered in a musical way. The voices are recordings I made of the acting company which I then treated.
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Urban Atmosphere
Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco
Tron Theatre (2011)

This was a recurring theme used in the street scenes that were often the darker scenes of the play.The majority of the sounds are from the same filed recording of a city by night,processed in different ways.
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Travelling Soundscape
Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco
Tron Theatre (2011)

An ethereal soundscape I created for the Tron Theatre production “Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco.” Every texture and element of this soundscape was created from treating a short recording of a Fiat Punto engine!
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Prologue
Formel
Reeling & Writhing (2011)

The drone-like quality of the treated long flute notes was a fitting texture with the droning qualities of the distant sea and wind heard in the soundscape. Created from individual sampled notes performed by flautist Katie Punter which I then processed. Original field recordings by Tim Nunn.
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Enchanted Forest Medley
Force Of Nature
Enchanted Forest (2010)

This is a 15 minute medley showcasing the various original music and soundscapes I created for the 2010 Enchanted Forest show “Force Of Nature”.
All vocal parts performed by Anne Lothian.
All flute parts performed by Jennifer Rhodes.
Original music and soundscapes by RJ McConnell.

Firefly Chorus
Force Of Nature
Enchanted Forest (2010)

One of the most popular pieces from 2010 Enchanted Forest show Force Of Nature.  This piece incorporates sampled birdsong, drones, chimes, woodwind, tuned percussion, and a human chorus to create an ethereal mix of music and soundscape.
Original music and soundscapes by RJ McConnell.
Vocal parts performed by Anne Lothian.
Flute parts performed by Jennifer Rhodes.

Audio Trailer
Time Tripper (2010)

Audio trailer for a site specific audio drama from new company Time Tripper.
Recordings, edit and sound design by RJ McConnell.

Mac’s Theme
A Tenement Tail
Tron Theatre (2010)
From an audio drama for Tron Theatre. The drama tells the story of a Glasgow tenement as seen through the eyes of a european cat called Mac.
Original music by RJ McConnell.

Main Theme
The Allotment
Tron Theatre (2009)

From an original soundtrack for the Tron Theatre production The Allotment, written and directed by Lawrence Crawford. There was a magical and ethereal feel to the beautiful set design by Laura Nasmyth and I wanted the music to have an equally magical feel. This piece is arranged for percussion including glockenspiel and marimba and fluctuates between 7/8 and 6/8.
Original music by RJ McConnell.

AC’s Dream
The Allotment
Tron Theatre (2009)

From an original soundtrack for the Tron Theatre production The Allotment, written and directed by Lawrence Crawford. This piece represented the troubled thoughts and dreams of the main character AC, an ex-soldier suffering from post traumatic stress. The piece moves in an unpredictable polyphonic structure, creating dissonant harmonies and an ethereal atmosphere.
Original music by RJ McConnell. Vocal parts performed by Anne Lothian.

Autumn
The Allotment
Tron Theatre (2009)

From an original soundtrack for the Tron Theatre production The Allotment, written and directed by Lawrence Crawford. This piece represented the arrival of autumn as portrayed by a beautiful movement sequence. The droning textures in this piece are wind harps, tuned and layered to create harmonies.
Original music by RJ McConnell.

Hamlet & The Ghost
Hamlet
Pitlochry Festival Theatre (2006)

Created as part of a sound design for the Pitlochry Festival Theatre production Hamlet – The Actor’s Cut, directed by John Durnin. The eerie textures from this soundscape, were created from recordings of various metal objects being struck.
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Ice Corridor
Inferno
The Arches (2006)

Part of a sound design for The Arches production Inferno, directed by Andy Arnold. This piece was used in narrow corridor representing the part of hell where sinners are frozen in ice. The soundscape was created by recording my own teeth chattering.
Soundscape by RJ McConnell.

Listen to more examples of my work on my Soundcloud profile.