Composing for a Latency-Rich Environment

Three new works were commissioned for the pilot performance of Online Orchestra: In Sea-Cold Lyonesse by John Pickard, Spiritus Telecommunitas by Federico Reuben and Re-Tracing by Jim Aitchison. This article brings together post-project interviews with composers and detailed analyses of the final compositions in order to document how composers approached the challenge of writing music for a latency-rich environment. Solutions include the use of distributed textures, polyrhythm and ostinati, blurred transitions, slow rates of harmonic change, layered textures and semi-improvised rhythmic notation. This leads to consideration of the medium of Online Orchestra – a telematic performance environment for distributed young and amateur musicians to make music together – and the conclusion that latency-rich environments hold significant potential for composers.