Michael J. Schumacher: The Episodes

Michael J. SchumacherFoto: Jung Hee Choi

The Episodes uses mostly radio sounds to build a quasi-drama, essentially an imaginary car ride with reception issues, in which the auto scan function has gone manic. Stations interweave and coalesce with intermodulation distortion playing a decisive role in undermining intelligibility.

The basic form is 3-part, like a traditional piano sonata: intro-fast-slow-fast. The last 8 minutes or so include an older, unpublished composition called "Logic Somewhere", which in itself made ample use of frequency and amplitude modulation (FM and AM). 

I like to listen to the radio in the car, I think this "practice" had a big influence on my way of composing. First of all, the car is a great listening environment (especially the newer models with their excellent soundproofing). Second, the radio is a kind of random sound generator. Third, the modes of listening vary from moment to moment, sometimes I can focus on the music, then I'm distracted by something on the road, then I'll notice the music has crept into my subconscious, or, when I'm on the highway going fast, I'll turn to a rock station and the music's rhythm will flow nicely with the feeling of speed. 

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