Written as an homage to unending Rube Goldberg devices, Automaton employs different sounds according to Luigi Russolo’s classifications in roughly equal amounts.  The sounds were remotely recorded by the composer and assembled in the construction of the piece.  Additional sounds come from the convolution of sounds and resonant filters.

Automaton

Melting the Snowman

Pterois

Galloping Home

Disney

A Resolution with Disney

Masque (excerpt)

Longing

An exploration of sounds derived from a piano, Flux Hammer employs sounds of physically altered piano strings. Source samples were prepared acoustically and manipulated through various processes, such as convolution, resonance filtering, and granular synthesis.

Flux Hammer

Red Coyote is an exploration of resonant filters and their relationship to preexisting synthesized sounds.  The piece focus on the relationship between the synthesized sounds and sounds filtered using resonating comb filters which are mostly tonal.  This piece is about the beauty and fragility of our natural resources, specifically the conservation of our fragile ecosystem.

Red Coyote

An exploration of the power of electroacoustic music, Mandala explores sounds that expand and soothe the mind and uses the release of tension as a point for healing and relaxation.

Mandala

Written while on sabbatical at American University, Tidal is an exploration of symmetrical structures and timbral relationships in electroacoustic sounds.  The piece mirrors tidal patterns and other repetitive but dynamic patterns.

Tidal

Paul A. Oehlers is most recognized for his “extraordinarily evocative” film scores. (Variety)  Films incorporating his music have won the Grand Jury prize at the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Atlanta International Film Festival, and the Indiefest Film Festival.  In addition, films with his music have screened at dozens of festivals in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 

Paul A. Oehlers’ compositions have been performed in the United States and abroad including performances at the Society for Electro-acoustic Music in the United States national conferences, the International Computer Music Conferences, the Gamper New Music Festival, the Seoul International Electro-acoustic Music Festival, the Institut für Neue Musik und Musikerziehung in Darmstadt, Germany, and the VII Annual Brazilian Electronic Music Festival, as well as a 1987 command performance for former United States President Ronald Reagan.  He was the first composer ever commissioned by the Nature Conservancy to compose a concert composition about prairie conservation.

Paul was named the Margaret Lee Crofts Fellow by the MacDowell Colony for the year 2006.  He is currently Associate Professor of Audio Technology at American University in Washington, DC.


Paul A. Oehlers

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