The Tower of Autumn Lights

The Tower of Autumn Lights

Work created in 2025/5/17

The Tower of Autumn Lights is a five-movement soundscape work woven from sound and imagery. This piece attempts to integrate dualities such as “light and shadow,” “self and other,” and “memory and regeneration” by fusing elements of traditional Japanese music with electronic sound processing.
Visually, the image of a tower, generated through 3D modeling, changes in response to the audio waveform. This tower symbolizes the central theme of the work: a journey into the self. As the music progresses, the transformation of the tower’s appearance visually expresses the listener’s shifting consciousness.
In the first movement, Dance of Mist and Masks, granular synthesis is used to deconstruct and reconstruct piano sounds, combined with a drone that emulates the Japanese shō. Here, the focus is on the “mask” of the self-the dissonance between one’s social face and inner self. The reversed string sounds suggest a reversal of time, functioning as an invitation to introspection.
The second movement, Reverse Side, Mirror, Shadow, employs binaural recording techniques to construct a spatialized sound field divided between left and right. Pulsing sounds reminiscent of the Ainu mouth harp “mukkuri” move between the ears, expressing the process of self-division and reintegration.
The third movement, Orchid and the Place of Essence, forms the core of the work. It features organic timbres inspired by the Hmong “khen” flute from Southeast Asia. This is the most human and warm sonic space in the piece, depicting the moment of encountering one’s own essence.
In the fourth movement, Lighthouse and the Memory of Poisoned Roses, multiple sonic layers are superimposed to express the multilayered nature of memory. The transition from dissonance to harmony symbolizes the sublimation of traumatic memories from the past. The heartbeat-like rhythm evokes the pulse of life, hinting at a reunion with the true self.
The final movement, Dance of Regeneration and Silence, begins with a simple drone and gradually becomes richer in color. The return of transformed sonic elements from the first movement expresses a spiral structure of time. As all sounds gradually fade into silence, the design attempts to sonify the Zen concept of “emptiness.”
This work combines the Web Audio API and Three.js to create a system where sound and imagery are organically linked. All sounds are generated in real time within the browser, resulting in a living work that presents subtle differences with each visit.
Special emphasis was placed on fusing traditional Japanese and East Asian acoustic sensibilities with contemporary electronic sound processing. Rather than relying on the Western concepts of tonality and harmony, the acoustic design focuses on changes in timbre (spectral qualities) and spatiality. This approach is akin to the Japanese gagaku concept of “ma” (space or interval) and a musical perspective that incorporates natural sounds.
This work is intended to function not merely as an audiovisual experience, but as a “meditation device” that encourages a journey into the viewer’s own inner world. Headphone listening is recommended to facilitate a more immersive experience and to guide the listener away from everyday consciousness.
By presenting the work in the public space of the Internet, it explores the possibility of shared experiences that transcend place and time. At the same time, while relying on digital technology, it continues to seek possibilities for artistic creation centered on human perception and spirituality.