BRIAN ENO

MICHAEL MCKENNA
BRIAN ENO AND AMBIENT MUSIC
• “An ambience is defined as an atmosphere, or a surrounding
influence: a tint. (...) Ambient Music is intended to induce
calm and a space to think.” – Eno, 1978
• Eno had a fascination with space – this culminated in an
album called Apollo
• He now creates visual music – Art that reacts to the music he
creates
• “The distinctions between the arts are starting to break
down, everything's much more porous. It’s possible to work
in a new landscape which is both visual and musical.” – Eno,
2011
INSPIRATION AND REFERENCE
COMPOSITIONAL TECHNIQUES
Always Returning (Date):
Eno utilises the same 2 bar guitar melody throughout the song
Piano follows a 4 bar structure which is often embellished to add interest
Reversed guitar introduced slowly and sparingly in the beginning
Another reversed guitar used in the second half to build up
Slowly fades in and out to ease the listener into the song
Deep Blue Day:
Synth layer that swells slightly, appears to be the same chord throughout with slight variations in the lower register.
8 bar guitar loop.
Bass acts as time measure
Prominent guitar in second half of track that swells slightly for emphasis
Fades in and out – Similar to Always returning
Introduces new variations every 8 bars: Guitar strumming, introduction of new sections, chord changes
Heavily reverbed instruments – minus bass
The Big Ship:
6/6
Use of notes that connect – almost no break in between the changes
Randomisation of notes
Builds up instrumentation slowly throughout piece adding more until the end
Fades out
Another Green World:
Fades in and out
Entire piece follows 4 bar looping
INSTRUMENTATION

• Eno uses many instruments throughout his pieces, in the examples I’ve chosen the main instrument
used is electric guitar which will be heavily present in my piece.
• Synthesis is another prominent layer in Enos pieces which I will try and incorporate into my piece
• Other instrumentation from the examples include: Organ, Piano, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Drums,
Omnichord
THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE
THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE –
TECHNIQUES USED
• Key: E Maj
• Time Signature: 4/4
• Similar to the examples I made use of fading in and fading out the track. I also faded certain sections at a faster and slower rate so it doesn’t stop until
• Syncopated guitar rhythm – 2 bar melody with a lower note changing in relation to the bass guitar.
• Simple 2 bar drum pattern – Hi-hat on every beat, kick on every 1 and every other 4, snare rim on every 3
• 2 bar piano melody
• 1 bar guitar melody which builds up when the synth melody comes – very quiet in the mix but adds texture
• Main synth melody is 16 bars long with similar motifs throughout
• Introduction of thirds in the main synth melody
• Reversed the main guitar melody which when heavily processed with reverb and eq creates an almost strings/synth layer that creates warmth and interest.
• Piece uses slight tension and release
• Main synth comes in on the 2nd of the bar to make sure the syncopated guitar which is playing throughout is noticeable.
• Bass plays on the 1 of every bar which acts as a time measure, another bass riff plays which uses slight syncopation.
• Synth swell was manually created using automation, E note is present in every swell with additional notes. E acts like a drone for this piece
• Prominent guitar with slight distortion in the final section of the track.
• Sections last 16 bars each with new additions and instrument drop outs
• Added a saturator and vinyl emulator to add warmth and slight harmonic distortion
 REFERENCE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
ADKINS, M. AND CUMMINGS, S. (2019). MUSIC BEYOND AIRPORTS.
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HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QUDCIVGEI9A [ACCESSED 8 DEC. 2019].
NARDI, M. (2019). BRIAN ENO LIGHT PAINTINGS. [VIDEO] AVAILABLE AT:
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ACADEMY. [IMAGE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JUL8KNYMGSA [ACCESSED
9 DEC. 2019].
RICHARD KOVITCH (2011). BRIAN ENO PROFILE AND INTERVIEW - OCT 2011. [VIDEO] AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=2MS0EULBNA8 [ACCESSED 3 DEC. 2019].
RICHARD KOVITCH (2011). BRIAN ENO PROFILE AND INTERVIEW - OCT 2011. [VIDEO] AVAILABLE AT:
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=2MS0EULBNA8 [ACCESSED 3 DEC. 2019].
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ATMOSPHERES-AND-SOUNDTRACKS-EXTENDED-EDITION [ACCESSED 7 DEC. 2019].
TAMM, E. (1995). BRIAN ENO. NEW YORK: DA CAPO PRESS.