Spatial Music, Virtual Reality, and 360 Media

This paper documents the composition, recording and post-production of a number of works of instrumental spatial music for a 360 video and audio presentation. A brief history of spatial music is presented and the filming and recording of a new work of orchestral spatial music is described with particular reference to the compositional aesthetic, the various Ambisonic microphones used in the recordings, post processing techniques, and the final 360 video production. The recording and production of a second performance of a newly composed spatial work for an acoustic quartet is also presented and the relationship between spatial music and 360 content is discussed. Finally, an exploration of the creative possibilities of VR in terms of soundscape and acousmatic composition is presented.