moonmoons AR 1.0.1

"moonmoons AR" represents a noteworthy collaboration between composer Anna Meredith and designer Arthur Carabott, merging music with innovative technology through the use of Augmented Reality and Spatial Audio. This app allows users to delve deeply into Meredith's latest composition, "moonmoons," offering a unique auditory experience.

The applicational design enhances Meredith's intricate soundscapes by positioning six virtual speakers—rendered as otherworldly, handcrafted ceramic objects drawn from the album's artwork by Anna’s sister, Eleanor Meredith—within the user's surroundings. This allows listeners to engage with the composition as if they are enveloped in its musical components.

The immersive experience is crafted so that proximity to these virtual objects corresponds with sound volume, fostering an intimate connection between the listener and the music. This spatial arrangement empowers users to tailor their own auditory journey through the piece.

As Meredith insightfully notes, "moonmoons are the moons of moons," reflecting themes of intergalactic realms and the juxtaposition of scale within her work. This concept reverberates throughout the piece, particularly in the slowly cascading climactic textures that are intricately constructed from compressed electronic elements.

Carabott elaborates on the technology’s role: “Augmented Reality and Spatial Audio provide a natural way to explore the subtleties of music, enabling listeners to play an active role in their own experience.”

The composition itself is layered prominently, showcasing cellist Maddie Cutter’s exquisite performance interwoven with arpeggiated synths, ethereal non-pitched sounds, and rich low-end percussive elements delivered by drummer Sam Wilson on a thundersheet. Following an initially gentle arching segment, the piece evolves, gaining intensity and culminating in a striking peak where powerful cascading stabs disrupt the sonic landscape before gently receding back.